LYNCH HILL Enterprise Academy was criticised by Ofsted for a ‘misleading’ prospectus in its recently published inspection report; in which the academy was judged to be ‘Inadequate.’

The inspection, which was carried out in June, was the first Lynch Hill Academy has undergone since it opened in 2014.

The school was rated ‘Inadequate’ in two of the five categories, including overall performance and the effectiveness of the leadership, and ‘Requires Improvement’ in three; including outcomes for pupils, personal development, and quality of teaching.

Ofsted criticised a curriculum it considered narrow, since subjects such as music, art, and design and technology are not taught. The inspectors stated: “The trust has not ensured that pupils experience a broad and balanced curriculum. Pupils have very limited opportunities to make progress in aesthetic, creative and technological learning.”

Ofsted additionally criticised the school’s website and prospectus for misleading parents and pupils. The 2016 prospectus states that pupils will study the national curriculum, including art and music, yet neither of these subjects are currently taught. Additionally, the prospectus claims that the school specialises in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), yet the inspectors wrote that education in technology and engineering plays only a “very limited” role in the curriculum.

Ofsted noted that “some parents and pupils, rightly, feel misled.”

The behaviour of pupils was also listed as a cause for concern, as Ofsted stated that teachers failed to routinely capture their students’ attention, and standards of behaviour were low. Ofsted reported: “It is quite common for pupils to drift off task, chat and disturb others.”

Responding, acting headteacher Gillian Coffey OBE said: “A new prospectus for 2017 is being prepared and will be available for the open evening on October 4. Art, music and DT are on the curriculum and the plans for this were available during the inspection.”

Explaining the lack of DT studies despite the school’s STEM specialism, Mrs Coffey said: “A full DT curriculum has been difficult to provide in limited temporary accommodation, however our new building has excellent facilities which will enable this to become a priority for the school.”

Mrs Coffey reassured pupils and parents that a number of improvements are already underway. An action plan is being developed, eight more members of staff have been recruited, and new chairmen for the trust and board of governors have been appointed.

Mrs Coffey said: “We expected the school to do much better and we would like to take this opportunity to apologise to pupils and parents for the issues highlighted by Ofsted.”