STUDENTS’ behaviour at a newly Inadequate Bradford secondary school is “at times, dangerous” and has led to some staff and pupils being injured recently, according to Ofsted inspectors.

The education watchdog visited The Holy Family Catholic School, in Spring Gardens Lane, Keighley on July 20 and 21 this year.

It was rated Inadequate for the first time since 2008, with a report published by Ofsted on Thursday.

The school, which had 904 pupils on the school roll during the visit, was previously judged to be Requires Improvement at its last full inspection back in May 2019.

But it has now dropped to the lowest level, with a rating of Inadequate in behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management; Requires Improvement in the quality of education and personal development; and good for its sixth-form provision.

Inspectors were particularly concerned that this is currently a school where a student's experience can vary widely depending on factors often out of their control.

Some pupils are "respectful and polite", while others are "defiant" and "at times, dangerous", according to the report.

It states: "Which classes you are in, who else is in them, which teachers you have, and who else is moving around school at the same time as you go a long way to determining whether your day is good or not."

Ofsted found that some students have their day "spoiled" by low-level disruption and defiance of staff with derogatory language, while others feel intimidated by the behaviour of the minority.

This poor behaviour has even caused injuries.

The report states: "A small number of staff and staff and pupils have been injured recently as the direct result of some pupils’ poor behaviour."

But leaders are taking action to tackle this "substantial minority" and pupils and most staff feel this is having a positive effect, according to inspectors.

The report states that such is the variability of pupils' experience at the school, many feel "happy and safe" there.

In a joint statement from the school, Chair of Governors, Janet Farrell, and Headteacher, Sharon Mather, said: “Whilst we are obviously disappointed with the overall judgement from the Ofsted inspection we are confident that we can and are making the required changes.

"The report confirms that ‘the current leadership has capacity to improve the school’.

"We acknowledge the areas we need to develop further but also welcome the many strengths outlined within the report, including the standard of our sixth form, the appreciation pupils have for our support with their mental health, the ‘virtues’ curriculum which teaches pupils about important values; and our strengthened personal, social, health and economics (PSHE) curriculum, teaching pupils about keeping themselves safe when online, healthy lifestyles and healthy relationships.

"We have a detailed School Improvement Plan and would like to reassure families that the whole staff team are working tirelessly on implementing that at pace.

"The plan is focused on improving standards in all aspects of school life.

"In doing so, we will continue to provide a safe, vibrant and varied education through a broad and balanced curriculum to all the children entrusted to our care, supporting them to grow into active and responsible citizens of our local and wider community.”