School 'inadequate' after assaults and absences

Merchants Academy, part of Venturers Trust, has around 1,300 pupils

A school has been downgraded to 'inadequate' after inspectors found "a sharp rise" in fights and assaults and pupils’ attendance "very low".

Education watchdog, Ofsted, said Merchants Academy in Withywood, Bristol, does not "always provide a safe environment" and pupils have "missed a lot of school" resulting in knowledge gaps.

The school, which is the biggest in South Bristol and part of the Venturers Trust, dropped from 'requires improvement' to the lowest Ofsted rating after an inspection on 19 and 20 March.

The chair of trustees for Venturers Trust Gail Bragg apologised for the outcome and said they have "fallen short".

In the Ofsted report, published on Wednesday, inspectors said that pupils "often defy the reasonable requests of staff".

It also said pupils receive "confusing messages" about how they should behave, and that a "significant number" of sixth form students behave anti-socially.

Older pupils experience bullying, inspectors said, adding that the school "does not know who is affected".

Inspectors added the curriculum does not address gaps in knowledge caused by absences effectively, meaning pupils "continue to fall behind and do not fulfil their potential".

However, they also acknowledged there are "many examples" of positive relationships between staff and pupils and pupils told inspectors there are "adults within the school who they can trust with their worries".

The all-through school, comprising of primary, secondary and sixth form aged students, has around 1,300 pupils on roll.

'Students let down'

The report said: "Over time, the trust has failed to support the school with its challenges.

"As a result, the quality of the school’s work has deteriorated. The quality of education is not of an acceptable standard.

"The trust does not have the capacity to bring about the improvements necessary.

"Some early signs of improvement in behaviour have given staff reason for optimism. However, it is too soon to tell whether these improvements can be sustained."

MP for Bristol South, Karin Smyth, said: "This report has exposed the inexcusable failure in management of Merchants’ Academy.

"The Venturers Trust has let down students in one of the most deprived areas of Bristol, denying them a good-quality education."

'Truly sorry'

Ms Bragg said: “We’re devastated that Merchants’ Academy has not been providing young people and their families with the quality of education they deserve, and as trustees we have fallen short of providing the challenge and support that the school needs.

"For this we are truly sorry.

"Despite the hard work and determination of so many individuals who have applied their expertise to improve the school, we have been unable to move the dial far enough or fast enough."

Interim CEO of Venturers Trust, David Moran, said the outcome gives an "opportunity for an academy-wide rest".

He said: "This has unquestionably been a challenging time for both the school and the wider community, but we continue to see the true heart and spirit of Merchants’ Academy every day in our students and staff.

"Their resilience and determination to make this a school that the entire community can be proud of will ensure that this next stage in the school’s journey is successful."