Bristol Steiner academy placed in special measures by Ofsted

The Steiner Academy in Bristol was criticised in the Ofsted report

A Bristol school has been placed into special measures after a highly critical Ofsted report.

Concerns have been raised about safeguarding, bullying and high exclusion rates at the Steiner Academy.

The Fishponds school is now working with a new management group, overseen by the Regional Schools Commissioner.

Joss Hayes, the new principal, said they are taking Ofsted's judgements "very seriously" and were "committed to making improvements".

'Risk of harm'

Steiner schools have an ethos of education taking account of the academic, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the child.

But in its report on the Bristol school, Ofsted said pupils were "exposed to avoidable risk of harm" and physical intervention is "used unnecessarily".

It also revealed pupils were not learning how to stay safe online and had a "limited understanding" of British values.

Mrs Hayes said: "We have already acted on many of its findings including additional training for all staff."

The school was set up in 2014 and has 377 pupils aged four to 16.