Ofsted has found Teignmouth Community School Exeter Road 'inadequate' after an inspection in March.

The rating is the worst on the education watchdog's four-tier scale: outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.

The secondary comprehensive academy had previously been rated good in 2015, but then requires improvement in 2019.

Ofsted's findings

Ofsted said in its report that pupils' experiences at the school are "too variable" because "expectations have been low" and "the curriculum is not well planned", which especially affects disadvantaged pupils.

It added that some subjects do not have a "clear, sequenced progression of learning", but leaders have started work on this.

In geography, for example, pupils follow a "well-planned curriculum". In many subjects, however, this depth of planning is not in place and so standards "are not as high as they should be".

The education watchdog described how leaders "do not ensure that staff provide sufficient support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)".

Staff are not given specific training, and some pupils in key stage three miss lessons to access literacy and numeracy support. Due to "poor organisation", pupils are not able to return to their subject lessons and continue learning.

Punctuality is reportedly poor, even though leaders have taken some action to improve it.

Ofsted said pupils recognise that behaviour and expectations are "improving but are not good enough". Bullying sometimes happens, but staff deal with it "promptly".

Leaders have reportedly prioritised improving poor behaviour in the school, and new systems are starting to have an impact. In most lessons, pupils behave calmly, but these expectations "are not applied with consistency, and some poor behaviour persists".

Ofsted added there have been recent, significant changes to leadership. A newly amalgamated trust has led to the appointment of new leaders, trustees and a local governing body.

These leaders have "clarity about the improvement needed to bring change" and in areas such as behaviour and curriculum planning, the work of new leaders is starting to take effect.

Staff are reportedly "ambitious for change and supportive of the new leadership team".

'A firm improvement plan is in place' - Ivy Education Trust

A spokesperson for Ivy Education Trust, of which Teignmouth Community School Exeter Road is a part, said: "Ivy Education Trust understand that the one-word Ofsted rating of 'inadequate' will be concerning to parents and carers of students at TCS Exeter Road, and fully appreciate that the findings within the report may cause worry for anyone who sends their children there.

"As a trust we would like to reassure everyone that a firm improvement plan is in place so that all staff at TCS Exeter Road are able to contribute to its continued development. 

"We know that the school have been working hard since the appointment of Rachel Wickham as headteacher to make changes internally, and this report will be used to further speed up the improvement processes that are in place.

"We have every faith in Mrs Wickham as headteacher of TCS Exeter Road, having seen the progress under her leadership at Dawlish College.

"We were particularly pleased to read the positive feedback within the Ofsted report surrounding certain areas within the school that are already improving such as the way that bullying is handled and the ambition of staff in making change.

"Ivy Education Trust would like to take this opportunity to echo Mrs Wickham's invitation to parents and carers to attend the parent forums being held at the school where feedback will be welcomed, details of which can be found on the TCS Exeter Road website."

Click here to read the Ofsted report.