Education

Report highlights problems at special school

A TROUBLED special school in Dorset does not meet all standards required, according to a new report.

Coombe House, in Donhead St Mary, first opened in May but was temporarily closed just a week later after ‘a bumpy start’, according to Dorset Council, which owns the site.

The school, intended to be the council’s flagship special educational needs school, re-opened shortly after, taking a reduced number of pupils.

It is run by the Dorset Centre of Excellence, located next to the property.

The site was formerly home to St Mary’s School until it was bought by the council for about £10 million in 2021.

Ofsted inspectors visited the site in October to compile its first report, following a ‘serious complaint relating to safeguarding, pupils’ welfare and safety, and leadership and management’, it said.

The inspectors say the school failed to meet standards in a number of areas in two categories – welfare, health and safety of pupils, and quality of leadership in and management of schools.

Reporting on the first section, the report says: “The proprietor delayed the school’s opening in the autumn term to enable staff to complete a comprehensive package of staff training.

“This included safeguarding training in line with statutory guidance.”

It said staff now ‘better understand’ and report concerns ‘promptly’.

However, it said ‘weaknesses’ in safeguarding remain.

“Despite recent training, staff did not apply the agreed procedures for reporting significant incidents to the designated safeguarding lead,” it said.

“In addition, some staff do

Coombe House, the controversial new SEN school for Dorset not understand some other important safeguarding procedures, for example, how to deal with allegations about members of staff.”

It also highlighted how the school did not have ‘sufficient information about the onward placements for some pupils who have left’.

“As a result, some important records, including those relating to safeguarding, have been slow to be transferred to new settings,” it went on.

Other concerns include the updating of pupils’ risk assessments in light of behaviour concerns and the lack of an up-to-date safeguarding policy on the school’s website.

“Pupils attending school say that they feel safe,” the report says. “A very small number of pupils who remain registered at the school do not attend. “Leaders do not have sufficient oversight of these pupils’ wellbeing.” Under the quality of leadership in and management of schools category, the report finds standards are not met. “The proprietor has ensured the significant changes that were required to the site to assure pupils’ safety are complete,” it added. However, it says the proprietor ‘has not ensured that the standards for the arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school are met’. Dorset Council had not responded to a request for comment when your New Blackmore Vale went to press.

Temporary classroms to be replaced

SCHOOLS in Sherborne and Yeovil are looking forward to refurbishments after being allocated money under a government scheme.

The latest round of funding announced as part of the School Rebuilding Programme includes Milford Junior School in Yeovil and Sherborne’s The Gryphon School.

Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan said: “Education is a top priority for this Government. That is why, despite facing challenging economic circumstances, we are investing a record amount in our schools and colleges.

“(This) announcement will transform hundreds of schools across the country and ensure they are fit for the future.

“The additional funding, alongside fantastic new facilities, will mean our brilliant teachers can get on with what they do best – and inspire the next generation.”

Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset and a former pupil of The Gryphon School, welcomed the news, which will see the premises substantially refurbished, with temporary classrooms being replaced.

The announcement comes after months of campaigning by the MP to get the school prioritised for its dilapidated ‘temporary’ classrooms to be rebuilt.

West Dorset MP Chris Loder with The Gryphon School head teacher Nicki Edwards

“I am very pleased that today our hard work on this campaign has been rewarded with a successful funding bid which will finally deliver the investment the school requires to replace the ‘temporary’ classrooms which I was schooled in 25 years ago,” he said.

Head teacher Nicki Edwards said: “This is wonderful news and comes at the end of a great year for The Gryphon with our best ever exam results and our excellent SIAMS inspection.

“Our students and staff work hard everyday and deserve to have the best facilities to work in – replacing our 25 year old ‘temporary’ classrooms will make such a difference.”