THE new principal of a secondary school has pledged to turn it around after it was put into special measures by Ofsted.

In its first inspection since being turned into an academy in September 2014, Skipton Academy has been judged the lowest possible 'inadequate' in all five areas, including overall effectiveness, quality of teaching and outcomes for pupils.

Teaching is criticised for failing to challenge or excite pupils, with their progress 'variable' and often slow, especially in maths.

A 'significant number' of pupils show little enthusiasm for learning, while attendance at the school – which now has 374 students, compared to 523 in 2013, and a drop of about a hundred since it first converted from Aireville School – is in decline, with high rates of persistent absence and some groups among the lowest in the country.

In a statement on the school's website, principal Richard McManus, who will take up his position in September, and who was previously at Dixons City Academy in Bradford, says: "As the new principal, I was aware of the issues and challenges the academy faced prior to accepting the role.

"I am entirely confident this is a watershed moment and improvements under new leadership will quickly deliver first class education for all our students."

Governors also come under criticism in the report for failing to challenge leaders robustly, while senior teachers failed to provide strong leadership.

Weaknesses in leadership has led to poor behaviour amongst pupils, and the school is advised against appointing newly-qualified teachers while behaviour remains inadequate.

Teaching, learning and assessment is judged 'highly consistent' and rarely challenging, while expectations are also too low, with pupils of all abilities not set goals or tasks to stretch or challenge them.

The Craven Educational Trust – set up to run the academy – while recognising the challenges faced by the school, failed to act sufficiently to secure improvements, the report states.

"This school requires special measures because it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school," it concludes.

Inspectors did acknowledge progress made by an interim leadership team – headed by Dr Andrew Cummings, head teacher at South Craven School – following the departure of former principal Wendy Hamilton in February. Arrangements to keep pupils safe are also effective, and at times pupils learn and behave well, especially in the top sets.

In order to improve, inspectors say the school must put an end to persistent absences of pupils, improve the quality of teaching and make sure governors play a full and effective part in bringing about improvement.

A spokesman for the Craven Educational Trust said the Ofsted report was disappointing for everyone involved at the school.

They added: "We do recognise the issues highlighted and already have very clear plans to ensure a much more positive outcome going forward."

In addition to Mr McManus, a new deputy head teacher, David Cook, has joined from Bingley Grammar School.

The spokesman added: "With a dynamic new leadership team in place, the plan is to produce a robust and swift response to the findings of the report, which will be communicated to parents at the beginning of the new academic year in September. We are confident the measures to be implemented will rapidly improve the performance of the academy."

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