Dunstable’s All Saints Academy set to take Ofsted to High Court after ‘inadequate’ rating

An academy in Dunstable has been granted a judicial review into a report by Ofsted after it received an ‘inadequate’ rating.

All Saints Academy Dunstable had tried to stop its most recent report from being published as it pursued legal action against the education regulator – but an interim injunction bid was dismissed and the report was published on Friday (July 7).

But according to a letter from the secondary school, the judge has granted permission for a judicial review into the rating. It is one of just 22 schools to be granted that permission since 2007.

The report into the school stated that attitudes, behaviour and personal development of pupils were ‘inadequate’. It also stated that the quality of the education and management needed to improve.

The school, on Houghton Road, had been inspected in November and again in January as inspectors conducted a ‘gaining additional evidence visit’.

But in a letter to parents and carers executive principal, Liz Furber, explained the school was ‘of the view that there are significant flaws in respect to the process undertaken during Ofsted’s inspection’, and called the final inspection report ‘unfair’.

She wrote: "The inspection involved two teams comprising eight inspectors in total, who took two months to reach very different judgements. We consider that Ofsted inspectors did not gain the additional evidence they needed to complete this inspection and this led them to provide an unfair final inspection report. As a result, and to protect the interests of the school, reluctantly, we requested permission in the High Court to apply for a Judicial Review.

"I am pleased to say that on Thursday, 22nd June we were given permisson to take Ofsted to a Judicial Review of our case. Gaining permission is very rare, with only 22 schools being granted that permission since 2007. This Judicial Review is likely to take place in the autumn term.”

She added the school was “led to believe” by inspectors in November that the school would be rated 'good' for quality of education, personal development, leadership and management and sixth-form provision and ‘requires improvement for behaviour and attitudes – with an overal 'requires improvement' grade.

But in the final report, the overall efectiveness rating had dropped to 'inadequate' along with behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management. The rating for quality of education and personal development had also dropped to 'requires improvement'.

According to the final Ofsted report: “Too many pupils do not feel safe at All Saints Academy Dunstable. A significant number do not feel happy and many parents and staff have concerns about provision. A large proportion of vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils have low attendance. Those pupils who receive education at alternative provision are not closely checked to ensure they attend and are achieving well. The small number of sixth-form students have a better experience than pupils throughout the rest of the school

"Behaviour is variable. Pupils experience frequent disruption to learning. There is not a culture of respect. Aggressive and abusive language towards peers and staff is common. Bullying happens. While pupils say that leaders deal with it if they know, it is often not reported. Pupils do not feel there is an adult in school they can talk to about concerns. They comment that some of this is down to the constant changes in staff.”

It added that while pupils have the opportunity to access a range of activities beyond the classroom, the curriculum for personal development is not effective at ensuring and developing positive attitudes in pupils towards others. It added that while pupils are “mostly taught a well-planned curriculum” their experience of its delivery is inconsistent.

All Saints Academy Dunstable and Ofsted were contacted for comment.