*CORRECTION: This article was originally published with a picture of Teignmouth Community School and Nursery on Mill Lane, which has a 'Good' rating from Ofsted. Teignmouth Community School on Exeter Road received 'inadequate' - The Mid-Devon Advertiser/Teignmouth Post/Dawlish Gazette apologises for this mistake.*

TEIGNMOUTH Community School on Exeter Road has been given an 'inadequate' rating in Ofsted's latest inspection, which took place in March 2023.

Last time the school was inspected in 2019, it received ‘requires improvement’.

Inadequate is the lowest grade a school can receive, which means the school ‘either has serious weaknesses or to require special measures’.

In the case of Teignmouth Community School on Exeter Road, Ofsted found that ’Pupils’ experiences of school are too variable’, and that this is because ‘expectations have been low and the curriculum is not well planned’. Ofsted say that this especially affects disadvantaged pupils.

They also noted the mixed record of bullying. Ofsted say: ‘Pupils recognise that behaviour and expectations are improving but are not good enough. Bullying sometimes happens, but staff deal with it promptly.

‘Some pupils report hearing derogatory language. A few are reluctant to report it, but an anonymous reporting tool makes that easier.’

Ofsted also note mixed issues in personal development: ‘Leaders have not established an effective personal development programme. Pupils have little opportunity to learn about values and citizenship.

‘Pupils can develop their leadership skills. For example, recently appointed student leaders are just starting their new roles. Students are positive about some aspects of the school, especially about their relationships with staff and the broad choice of subjects.’

Ofsted also notes that extra-curricular opportunities are relatively good and ‘well planned’, with a variety of activities on offer.

The report provides for key areas that are required for development :

► Pupils who are disadvantaged do not receive sufficient support or provision to help them overcome barriers to learning. As a result, they make poor progress compared to their peers. Leaders must ensure that the actions they have commenced are effective in tackling the declining progress of disadvantaged pupils.

► The school’s curriculum is not planned and sequenced well in some subjects. This means there is not a clear progression of learning for pupils. As a result, pupils do not make the progress they should. Leaders need to ensure that there is time and training for staff to plan and implement subject curriculums.

► Leaders have not prepared staff with the training and guidance to support pupils with SEND (Special educational needs and disabilities) effectively. As a result, pupils with SEND do not receive the provision and adaptation they need to learn the curriculum as well as they could. Leaders must make sure teachers receive appropriate training and guidance.

► Leaders have not planned a coherent approach to developing pupils’ character. The curriculum does not develop pupils’ moral values. Leaders have not defined what they want pupils to learn. As a result, some pupils do not receive a wide set of experiences and are not well prepared for the world beyond school. Leaders need to ensure that pupils learn how to be well-informed citizens of 21st century Britain.

A spokesperson for the Ivy Education Trust, who is responsible for Teignmouth Community School, said: ‘Ivy Education Trust understand that the one-word Ofsted rating of “inadequate” will be concerning to parents and carers of students at TCS Exeter Road, and fully appreciate that the findings within the report may cause worry for anyone who sends their children there.

‘As a trust, we would like to reassure everyone that a firm improvement plan is in place so that all staff at TCS Exeter Road are able to contribute to its continued development. We know that the school have been working hard since the appointment of Rachel Wickham as headteacher to make changes internally, and this report will be used to further speed up the improvement processes that are in place.

‘We have every faith in Mrs Wickham as headteacher of TCS Exeter Road, having seen the progress under her leadership at Dawlish College. We were particularly pleased to read the positive feedback within the Ofsted report surrounding certain areas within the school that are already improving such as the way that bullying is handled and the ambition of staff in making change.

‘Ivy Education Trust would like to take this opportunity to echo Mrs Wickhams invitation to parents and carers to attend the parent forums being held at the school where feedback will be welcomed, details of which can be found on the TCS Exeter Road website.’