By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
A Nottinghamshire college where there are ‘many incidents’ of homophobic and transphobic language has been given an ‘inadequate’ rating by inspectors.
Some students at Kirkby College reported they feel “unsafe because of other pupils’ behaviour around the school” during a visit from the education watchdog Ofsted in November 2021.
Using discriminatory language had also “become the norm” for some pupils – and Ofsted said school leaders have not ensured that pupils learn that it is wrong to use “prejudiced language and to express discriminatory views”.
The head teacher said in a statement he was “deeply disappointed” with the report, adding an action plan was in place and staff would work hard to improve.
Following the assessment, inspectors “strongly recommended” that the college, which has 425 pupils, does not seek to appoint early careers teachers.
The secondary comprehensive, in Tennyson Street, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, was rated inadequate in all four monitored areas including quality of education, behaviour and leadership.
It was first rated inadequate in 2018, and this overall rating has not improved since.
Inspectors wrote: “There are many incidents of pupils using discriminatory homophobic and transphobic language. Staff do not challenge these comments appropriately. They also fail to report these comments.
“Leaders do not keep accurate records of such incidents.
This limits their capacity to deal effectively with this type of behaviour, and the
attitudes and opinions that may lay behind them. Some pupils think this language is acceptable. Having this attitude prepares them poorly for life in modern Britain.”
Pupils reported that they lack confidence in how leaders deal with bullying – and incidents are not recorded.
The report stated LGBT+ had been set up in school and religious education is taught to pupils in Key Stage 3 – but this is “not sufficient to counteract the intolerance and discrimination that some pupils demonstrate”, inspectors said.
They also found that special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) pupils do not benefit from high quality education as the curriculum is “narrowed” for them.
There was also criticism of school trustees, who do not provide leaders with “effective challenge”.
The report added: “They [trustees] have not ensured that senior leaders have brought about the rapid, necessary improvements to the quality of education, pupils’ personal development and pupils’ behaviour and attitudes.
“Consequently, for too long, pupils have received an unacceptable standard of education, while the behaviour and attitudes of some pupils have been inappropriate.”
Mark Golden, headteacher, said in a statement: “We are deeply disappointed by the findings of our recent Ofsted report, as we want to provide the students and the local community with an outstanding school. This will always be our aim, and we are confident that with the action plan we have in place, coupled with our hard work and determination for improving the school, we can succeed.
“We are currently working with a number of other schools as we look to improve and establish best practice processes that will allow us to give our students the education they deserve.
“We are excited for the future, but turning the school around will require a genuine team effort and so we ask our students and the local community for their patience and support as we embark on this challenge.”
