Thomas Hall School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an inadequate school Leaders have failed to ensure the safety and well-being of pupils. Significant lapses in safeguarding practice continue to put pupils at risk. Leadership is dysfunctional at all levels of the school.

Leaders do not work together in the best interests of pupils. Governors have failed in their duty of care towards both adults and pupils. They have failed to take swift action to address known safety issues.

Leaders fail to fulfil their statutory obligations in relation to the special educational needs (SEN) and disability code of practice. The identification of and support for these pupils is inadequate. Leaders fail to promote equali...ties effectively.

Pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities are disproportionately excluded from school. Additional funding for disadvantaged pupils is misspent, having no impact on their achievement. Attendance is low.

This is particularly the case for disadvantaged pupils and those who have SEN and/or disabilities. Leaders have failed to shape a curriculum that combines the Steiner approach with the requisite academic learning that pupils need to succeed in their studies. Teachers are unable to meet the individual needs of pupils who need specialist, tailored support.

Reasonable adjustments are not being made for these pupils. Teaching is inadequate. Staff do not consider progress in mathematics, reading and writing to be fundamental to the educational well-being of pupils.

Consequently, their progress in these key areas is extremely poor. Teachers fail to plan learning based on what pupils already know and can do. Learning often lacks purpose, and pupils quickly lose interest and their behaviour deteriorates.

Leaders' and teachers' management of poor behaviour is inadequate. Disruption to learning is routine. The leadership of and provision for children in the early years (Kindergarten) is inadequate.

Teachers' supervision and behaviour management of children is unsafe. Learning and progress is poor.

Information about this school

On 26 September, the Department for Education's regional schools commissioner sent a 'Minded to terminate' letter to the school's trustees.

The school is exempt from delivering the literacy and mathematics requirements of the early years foundation stage. It is also not required to administer national tests at the end of key stage 1. The school's funding agreement requires it to admit its pupils for national testing at the end of key stage 2 (Class 5) and key stage 4 (Class 10).

The school's website describes the school's aims as striving 'to balance the creative, the active and the academic… to develop children to their fullest potential as motivated, confident, self-reliant and responsible individuals with a life-long love of learning and a strong sense of the contribution they can make to society'. The school's website is not compliant with the statutory requirements for an academy free school. In particular, information for parents on the impact of SEN and additional funding lacks detail and does not explain how it leads to improved outcomes for these pupils.

The school has one pupil on its roll who is currently educated for one day each week at 'Choices' alternative provision. Since June, the school has bought in targeted support from Devon County Council. Local authority officers have conducted reviews of SEN provision and the safeguarding arrangements.

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