News / Education
Pupil referral unit gets best South West Ofsted report four years after being ‘inadequate’
A pupil referral unit has earned the best Ofsted report in the south west four years on from being rated ‘inadequate’.
Lansdown Park Academy on Stockwood Lane in Stockwood was described as “poor”, “neglected” and having “low expectations” when it was assessed in 2022.
But the school, which moved from Learn@ MAT to Cabot Learning Federation in the intervening years, was rated ‘exceptional’ in four key areas this summer.
is needed now More than ever
It is the first school in the South West to have achieved that level in multiple categories under Ofsted’s new framework, and was also rated ‘strong’ in the remaining two areas.
Lead inspector Liz Geller said in her report: “Pupils are genuinely valued at Lansdown Park Academy.
“All arrive with historic negative experiences of education. Most have social, emotional and mental health needs. Leaders ensure pupils’ voices are heard.
“Carefully tailored transition arrangements mean that pupils settle quickly. Pupils feel a deep sense of belonging in this highly inclusive school.”
Councillor Jonathan Hucker said the school has had an ‘”incredible turnaround” – photo: Johnathan Hucker
Stockwood councillor Jonathan Hucker told Bristol24/7: “I think it’s an incredible turnaround and a fantastic achievement. Four years ago they had an absolutely dreadful Ofsted report.”
The 2022 inspection described the school site as “neglected” and staff as “very unhappy”, and said there was “regular potential for violence between groups of pupils”.
It was ranked ‘inadequate’ across every category.
Hucker contacted the school after the verdict came out and was told it had a plan in place to improve. He joined the academy council, but has left now that things have got better.
“They employed a lot of new staff there who are equipped to operate that sort of establishment,” he said.
“A lot of it is also down to the direction of the principal Paul Todd. He basically inherited a dreadful situation and through his leadership he’s managed to turn it around.
“They also managed to attract a significant amount of money to improve the building itself. It (is) a much more welcoming place than used to be the case.”
Todd, who became principal in 2022, said: “We are delighted that the work over the past four years has been rightly recognised in the recent Ofsted report.
“I am incredibly proud of the team of staff (and) their ongoing commitment to inclusive practice while holding a high standard in everything we do.”
Main photo: Lansdown Park Academy
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
