An Oldham school has been given the worst possible Ofsted rating by inspectors who said pupils have been "failed for far too long" and many are unhappy.

According to the devastating report, Waterhead Academy pupils are being left “not fully prepared to take their place in modern Britain”.

Particularly highlighted was the poor behaviour of a 'significant' number of students disrupting others and a "legacy of low aspiration and ambition".

The report, which was shared with parents but has not yet been published on the education watchdog's website, insisted pupils “are not getting a good deal at Waterhead Academy” and mentioned there were instances of homophobic and racist language.

The school was given an overall rating of ‘inadequate’ – the worst possible rating and is based on an inspection by five Ofsted inspectors in October last year.

The school was previously given a rating of ‘requires improvement’ in 2019.

Due to the damning report, the school has been placed in special measures under the Education Act, with leadership told it did not demonstrate the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school.

Waterhead Academy was founded in 2010 as a merger of Breeze Hill School, with a predominantly Asian pupil population, and Counthill School, with a predominantly white pupil population, in an effort to promote racial integration.

In 2012, the school moved to its new £25m building.

The school had previously been placed in special measures back in 2014, following an 'inadequate' rating but was taken out of special measures in 2016 and upgraded to a 'requires improvement' rating.

In 2021, the school was shortlisted for the community and collaboration award from the Tes School Awards.

Pupils ‘not getting a good deal’

Ofsted inspectors were fierce in their latest report on Waterhead Academy.

Inspectors said a ‘significant number’ of pupils had poor behaviour and truancy which was accepted as the norm by staff and leaders, leading to disrupted learning.

Pupils were said to be exposed to abusive language and name-calling, as well as homophobic and racist language, with pupils telling inspectors they were ‘fed up’ with the situation that they now come to accept as part of their daily experience of school life.

Leadership criticised

Ofsted inspectors were unforgiving in their criticism of leadership.

Leaders were told they had “overseen a decline in the quality of education that pupils receive” and that “pupils have been failed for far too long”.

Pupils were said to underachieve at the school, with an inadequate curriculum that lacks ambition for pupils and unnecessarily repeats information learned at primary school.

Leaders were further denounced for failing to ensure pupils in Key Stage 3, aged between 11 and 14, had access to the full range of the National Curriculum – ill-preparing them for further education.

Some subject teachers were said to lack subject knowledge to deliver content with confidence, with delivery hampered by interruptions caused by poor behaviour.

A "legacy of low aspiration and ambition" was said to mean pupils were not prepared to take their place in modern Britain, lacking the literacy and numeracy skills needed to succeed.

Due to the poor report, Ofsted strongly recommended that early career teachers not be appointed at the school.

Headteacher leaves

Following the inspection, which took place in October last year, the school released a statement from headteacher Darren Lyon on Friday, December 9, announcing that he would be taking early retirement following ‘nearly 25 years in education’, with James Wilson instated as acting principal from January 2023.

Waterhead Academy is run by South Pennine Academies – a multi-academy trust which manages 10 schools across the region, including four in Oldham: Woodlands Primary Academy, Waterhead Academy, Greenacres Primary Academy, and Waterhead Academy.

New principal’s plan

Mr Wilson said: “Waterhead Academy is a thriving school community with talented and creative young people.

“My first act as principal was to undertake an honest appraisal of the school and understand its strengths and weaknesses. The assessment informed a 100-day plan that is already underway to make significant improvements to all areas of the school.

“The recent Ofsted inspection raises several issues that we are quickly addressing. We are working with all key stakeholders to provide a high-quality education for our students both within the classroom and beyond so that students can achieve the best academic and broader outcomes to achieve their ambitions.

“Things are changing for the better at our school, and we’re working closely with parents, carers and students to create positive change.”

In a letter to parents last week addressing the rating and report, he said: "Over the next few weeks, I will write to you in a very open and honest way to let you know about the good things that I will undoubtedly see, but I will also draw your attention to those things we need to work on together to improve.

"This journey of improvement will require positive discussion and collaboration between school and home but will ultimately support positive and sustained improvements for individuals as well as the wider school community."

The full report, when published, will be available on Ofsted’s website.

The report is currently available on Waterhead Academy’s website.