'Inadequate' school had 'disrespectful culture'

The school said improvements were being made following the inspection

A school in which the use of misogynistic language was found to be "commonplace" has been rated "inadequate".

Ofsted inspectors who visited The Oldershaw School in Wallasey, Wirral, said the offensive, derogatory and misogynistic language that was often heard "typified the disrespectful culture" at the school.

Local MP Dame Angela Eagle said she was deeply concerned about Ofsted's "alarming" findings at the co-educational academy, which was rated "good" following a previous inspection in 2022.

The Oldershaw School said it had a "no tolerance approach to any form of disrespectful language between students" and was determined to make improvements.

Labelling the school as "inadequate" in four of five areas, Ofsted said "profanities, offensive and derogatory language linked to misogyny are regularly heard".

Labour MP Eagle said: "Young people only get one chance at their education, and they deserve far better than what is currently being delivered."

She said the offensive language comments revealed a "toxic culture" within the school.

Dame Angela Eagle said she was "alarmed" by the Ofsted inspection report

The Ofsted report said pupils' behaviour in school corridors was "often boisterous and chaotic" and that "many pupils struggle to conduct themselves in an appropriate and respectful manner".

Inspectors said poor behaviour often went unchallenged by adults.

When their behaviour was questioned, pupils were often described as "confrontational, defiant and, at times, rude".

The report said many pupils were not happy at the school.

Some students were said to be wandering around the school instead of attending lessons.

The school was criticised for having low expectations for pupils and poor academic outcomes.

'Persistent absences'

The report said the academy trust and the school itself were "too accepting of the barriers that hinder school improvement" and have been "too slow to drive forward the change that is needed to ensure that pupils receive an acceptable standard of education".

It said both absence and persistent absence rates remained "unacceptably high", particularly for disadvantaged pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

It said nearly half of the school's 836 pupils were persistently absent.

The school was also criticised for its lack of focus on literacy.

It said "A very high proportion of pupils struggle to read and a significant minority are in the early stages of reading."

The school's sixth-form provision is due to close this academic year, with it currently only having students in Year 13.

Eagle said she "condemned the failings of the school's leadership, academy trust, and governing body in the strongest possible terms".

She said she hoped they would work constructively with the Department for Education to implement the necessary changes "to ensure that the children of Wallasey receive the high-quality education they are entitled to".

'Confronting attitudes'

The Oldershaw School said more than 60% of its students qualified for free school meals and more than a third received SEND support.

It said improvements were being made following the inspection.

"Many of the issues highlighted in the report are long standing, particularly those around published outcomes," the school said in a statement.

"Over recent years the school has appointed a high number of well qualified, hard working and passionate staff who are focussed on improving the provision for all of our students.

"It should be mentioned that improvements in student personal development were noted in the report.

"This school, like all schools nationally, has to confront attitudes that exist in the wider community."