Woodeaton Manor School: Parents concerned by Ofsted report

An Ofsted inspection described the running of Woodeaton Manor School as "chaotic"

Management of a school for children with severe emotional and social difficulties has been "unravelling", parents have claimed.

An Ofsted inspection described Woodeaton Manor School, near Oxford, as "chaotic" and rated it as inadequate.

A group of parents said pupils had suffered "unnecessary distress and anxiety" in recent months.

The school said it was committed to providing a "safe learning and caring environment".

Woodeaton is a special day and residential school for children with autism and severe social and emotional needs. It is currently oversubscribed with 92 pupils, aged between seven and 18.

Its head teacher was understood to have been absent since July 2023 and the original board of governors at the school resigned in November.

Staff shortages also resulted in teaching being reduced to two days a week before Christmas.

Problems highlighted by an Ofsted inspection earlier the same month ranged from lack of leadership to poor communication and shortages of staff.

In a letter to parents, the chair of the interim board of governors said a new consultant head had been brought in

The BBC has seen a copy of the inspectors' report, which was shown to parents ahead of its forthcoming publication.

"Widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected and... the care and experiences of children and young people are poor," it said.

"The school is often chaotic and staff are not supported well enough to provide the nurture, care and professionally informed approach that pupils need."

The report also raised concerns over "physical violence" against teachers and other pupils, while governance was branded "ineffective".

The school's rating was downgraded from good to inadequate.

In a statement, a parents' group representing about a third of pupils at he school, said they were "shocked and saddened" by Ofsted's findings.It said: "It had been clear since the start of the Autumn Term that the running and maintenance of the school was unravelling; affecting pupil's mental health and their access to education.

"However, the sudden nature of the School's decline has come as a terrible shock to school community."

Abigail Bush, who worked at the school for a year, said staff at the school had become stressed

The parents also criticised what they said was a lack of communication from the school board.

"This has caused unnecessary distress and anxiety to already vulnerable children, triggering a decline in behaviour at the school."

Abigail Bush, who worked as a teaching assistant at the school until October 2023 and also has a son who attends, said it had previously been a "holistic, life-changing place" which rapidly became "really difficult".

She said: "Staff were stressed and the morale and sense of community that was there was dissipating rapidly. The kids are stressed, anxious and uncertain."

In a letter to parents, the chair of the interim board of governors said a new consultant head had been brought in and together they were working to apply for academy status.

A school statement said: "We are carefully considering the report's findings and will make any improvements it recommends.

"In the meantime, we continue to be committed to ensuring our pupils receive a good education in a safe learning and caring environment."

Oxfordshire County Council said it was also working with the interim school leaders to "drive forward the improvement programme at pace".

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