Sandwich Technology School has received an Inadequate grading from education watchdog Ofsted.
The school was graded inadequate in all areas except 6th form provision which was rated as good following an inspection in May.
A report by the Ofsted inspectors says: “Despite many positive relationships between pupils and staff, low standards of behaviour and attitudes have created a culture in which reasonable expectations are routinely flouted. Bullying and fighting are commonplace, and lessons are often disrupted.
“Attendance is low, and there are high levels of in-school truancy. As a result, many pupils have a fragmented experience of education.
“The school’s safeguarding culture is poor. When pupils are absent, procedures to establish their whereabouts lack rigour, and actions to seek assurance about their safety are often delayed.
“When in school, the chaotic environment has left some pupils feeling unsafe. Some pupils do not report concerns because they do not trust the school to deal with them.
“Pupils do not benefit from an effective personal development curriculum. They do not have an understanding of fundamental British values, and their knowledge of different faiths and cultures is limited. This means pupils are not adequately prepared for life in modern Britain.
“The quality of education is not good enough. Although the curriculum is ambitious and carefully planned, expectations are too low, and the quality of teaching is inconsistent. Consequently, most pupils underachieve significantly.
“Standards are higher in the sixth form. Leaders set high expectations for students’ education, attendance and pastoral care. As a result, students in the sixth form get a better deal.”
Inspectors say too many pupils struggle to remember what they have been taught and outcomes in exams are persistently low.
The report adds that “too many pupils do not attend school regularly, and in-school truancy is high. A significant minority of pupils often wander the corridors and choose to miss lessons. Staff struggle to return these pupils to lessons because of the number and attitudes of those involved.
“Standards of behaviour are poor. In some lessons, pupils behave calmly. However, in others, expectations are not consistently applied, which allows poor behaviour to disrupt learning. Fights are a regular occurrence during social times. Pupils and parents say that bullying happens and is not dealt with effectively. Pupils do not always report concerns due to a lack of confidence in the school’s ability to deal with issues effectively.”
Inspectors did acknowledge the quality of 6th Form teaching, saying: “Students benefit from a more consistent quality of education, taught by experienced and knowledgeable staff. “Students are well behaved and engaged in their learning. High expectations, uncapped aspirations and strong pastoral support from the school ensure that students achieve well.”
The school was previously graded as Good following an inspection in 2019.
Complaint lodged
However, Sandwich Tech has made a complaint about the ‘biased and disproportionate’ report and a letter to parents says this is in the process of being escalated to an independent adjudicator.
The letter from headteacher Tracey Savage, who leaves her role at the end of the year, says: “Governors, leaders of the school and staff accept that there are aspects of the school that have been significantly affected since the covid-19 pandemic and require improvement (mainly attendance and behaviour) but we believe the report is not a fair reflection of Sandwich Technology School.”
Ms Savage says schools across the country are dealing with areas of concerns such as attendance, mental health, behaviour, parent complaints and antisocial behaviour since covid, adding: “We are disappointed that Ofsted has judged us severely for our share of national problems and has offered no solutions.”
The school, now in Special Measures, also disputes the branding of safeguarding as ineffective, saying that was not the view of an external safeguarding expert.
Ms Savage says work has already started on plans to address the issues raised and she asks parents to be supportive.
The Government has now removed one word ratings from Ofsted inspections but this was not in time for the Sandwich Tech inspection.
Ms Savage says in the letter: “I believe Sandwich Technology School is a good school that works hard for its community and I am proud of it. It is my hope that as a school, with the aid of our parents and local community, we can move beyond this report and focus on what matters – the students and their education.”
The full report can be found at: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136317
Slow news day in Thanet, or are you now also covering the Herne Bay and Sandwich constituency area?
You know West Thanet is now in that constituency? But actually lots of Thanet kids go to Sandwich Tech and as I cover their exam results there is no reason not to cover the Ofsted. You are quite welcome to scroll on by
Fair comment. Would hate it to go the way of other “local” papers though, where there are more articles on Maidstone and Dover than Thanet.
That’s never going to happen
Peter Checksfield, half of the students are from Ramsgate and the surrounding area.
The Headteacher is in the wrong not calling in HELP from KCC sooner. This obviously hasn’t just happened.
Unfortunately there is some children/teenagers that just do not know how to behave or want to behave anymore.
This could be bad parenting. But I imagine it is more to do with the affects of covid isolation and lockdowns, but mostly phones and social media.
Kids now see celebrities and want what they have but do not want to work for it. Not everyone is academic. But children have the right to an education. And there is not enough in place to keep them interested at school and at least try to get them to their potential.
This has a knock on affect to their behaviour to other pupils, disrespect to teachers and some children do not even have respect for police.
Sandwich Technology having a report like this is unfortunately only the start. Other schools will follow down this route!
Apparently Chatham and Clarendon have had a bad Ofsted. Will this be released?
Ofsted publishes all its reports for schools so no reason for Chatham & Clarendon not to be released
2018 was the grammar schools last Ofsted report. Meant to be ever 4 years or sooner !
Wow!That was a damning report.However,I imagine it is not much better in other schools;they just hide it,better.
Teachers are expected to provide challenge for the most able students, to cater for those who are less able – often in a myriad of ways because young people have a range of different barriers to learning – and to prevent / respond adequately to poor behaviour no matter how awful or indeed threatening that behaviour may be. Also helps if they can do cartwheels and walk on their hands while doing all of the above ‘cos that will keep the students entertained. Sense of humour required, compassion required, endless patience, meticulous planning, great knowledge of subject, ability to communicate well with parents and so on & so forth ad infinitum.
Can be a really fun job and very rewarding … on a good day.
Ofsted does reflect the true picture.
Schools that cherry pick the best kids are expected to have the best results.
Schools that have kids from a not so fortunate back ground will have a poorer results.
Kids that come into school with the expecting to get zero qualifications but leave with a few. That’s a great result for that school fighting against poor housing, poor parents, poor food. But Ofsted reports it as low because of exam results.
Yet the school that cherry picks, the grammar schools ( thanks to the only county that has the 11+ ) expects good results and gets good results.
Which school has improved the kids ? The school fighting against everything or the school with everything going for it.
I think you describe the true picture. And if schools ‘add value’ (horrible phrase) in that students do rather better than their test results at entry suggest they might, then that should be reflected in the Ofsted report too.
Poor behaviour seems to feature in this particular report and that is a very thorny issue which appears to be getting increasingly difficult to handle. Schools get the blame for societal problems, I think we agree on that.
There are some schools that manage behaviour better than others but their ability to do so depends on a whole range of factors, for example, randomly, whether they can afford to cherry pick the very best teachers.
Far, far over due. The headteacher is, and always has been, completely delusional on the school and its operation.
I was a student here a decade ago, and it is very clear this school has suffered repeatedly from poor attitudes towards pupils. I’d imagine this can be attributed to many schools in or indeed outside the county, but I can only share my experiences for this school.
Far too many still serving staff act as if they are judge, jury and executioner of every single incident. Yes, kids should be taught better discipline and behaviour at home; but the fact of the matter is some children are not from complete and healthy homes, some children cannot adapt to the current template and system of schooling, of which has existed every since the academy changes over a decade ago. Way too much caring about how uniform is looking, what shoes pupils are wearing, or whether or not they go for a cheeky cig after school; rather than working to try and maintain a good student-pupil relationship and keeping kids engaged. It’s no wonder they’re all playing truant.
The fact of the matter is, unless a change of leadership is realised and a serious overhaul at the staff level is made, this is going to keep repeating itself.