A SCHOOL with “weak” pupil progress, a “poorly designed curriculum” and poor attendance has been branded inadequate in all areas by Ofsted.

Lightcliffe Academy in Stoney Lane, Lightcliffe, had been rated requires improvement in 2016, but the latest rating is the second time it has been rated inadequate since it became an academy in 2012.

Inspectors raised concerns in a large number of areas at the schools.

The report said: “Pupils’ progress is weak. From broadly average starting points, pupils achieve much less well than others nationally in a wide range of subjects.

“Rates of attendance remain stubbornly below average. Over time, levels of persistent absence have increased and, despite a very small improvement in 2018, persistent absence remains above the national average.

“The proportion of disadvantaged pupils who are persistent absentees is high.

“Leaders and governors have been too slow to tackle weaknesses in leadership and teaching since the previous inspection.

“This has had a detrimental effect on some significant aspects of the school’s provision.

“Teachers do not always consider pupils’ prior learning when they plan lessons. This and a poorly designed curriculum impede pupils’ progress, particularly for disadvantaged pupils, boys and the most able.

“Some pupils’ literacy skills are poor. Leaders do not have a robust plan in place to address this.

“Leaders do not make effective use of additional funding to support disadvantaged pupils. For too long, disadvantaged pupils’ outcomes have been significantly below others nationally.

“Leaders do not ensure that all staff apply school policies consistently, including the behaviour policy. Although improving, pupils’ attitudes to learning over time are not consistently positive.

Although leaders deal with incidents of bullying effectively, their strategies to analyse and act on patterns and trends of bullying are underdeveloped.

“The provision in the sixth form is inadequate. The quality of teaching in the sixth form is too inconsistent. Over time, students’ progress has declined and is now below average.”

Ofsted did identify some strengths at the school. It said the headteacher Thomas Rothwell is “well respected”, and has developed “effective link with parents and carers”.

It also said the provision for students with special educational needs or disabilities is “improving quickly”, and leadership in SEND is “much improved”.

Before becoming an academy in 2012, the school was called Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High School and Sports College, and had been rated good.

The school is now part of the Abbey Multi-Academy Trust, which runs eight schools - both primary and secondary - across West Yorkshire, including Lightcliffe C of E Primary School.