Oakbank School in Reading has been rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted, raising concerns about its leadership, teaching quality, and student well-being.
Reading: The Oakbank Secondary School just got a pretty rough review from Ofsted. They found it ‘inadequate’ in several areas, including education quality and student behavior. This inspection happened back in November, led by Lisa Strong.
Oakbank, which opened in 2012 on the old Ryeish Green School site, was previously rated as ‘Requires Improvement’ in 2023. But now, it seems like things have taken a turn for the worse.
Ofsted pointed out that there’s been a lot of leadership changes and staff turnover, which has really shaken up the school community. A spokesperson from Anthem Schools Trust expressed their disappointment but acknowledged that changes are necessary.
Students are feeling pretty disgruntled, with many not enjoying school. The report mentioned that a lot of lessons are being taught by supply teachers, and there’s a lot of disruptive behavior happening in classes.
Ofsted also criticized the board of trustees for not keeping students safe, saying the safeguarding measures are lacking. While the school does identify the needs of students with special educational needs, they’re not making enough adjustments to help them in class.
Plus, the curriculum is missing key subjects like Religious Education and Computer Science for all students, which means they’re not getting a well-rounded education. The report also noted that teachers aren’t checking if students understand the material, leading to gaps in knowledge.
With all the staffing issues, it’s clear that the school is struggling to improve. The headteacher, Danielle Finlay, just started in January 2024 while the current head is on maternity leave.
Anthem Schools Trust is working on a school improvement plan, which includes getting students involved in the changes. They’re focusing on better safeguarding, training for staff, and a more targeted curriculum.
Local leaders, including Wokingham Borough Council’s Stephen Conway, are aware of the community’s concerns and are committed to working closely with the trust. MP Yuan Yang also expressed her disappointment and hopes this report will lead to a fresh start for the school.
