Ofsted reveals problems at school due to join Kingswood-based Cabot Learning Federation

Ofsted inspectors today said that they found so many problems with teaching, leadership and learning at a secondary school that will be joining the Kingswood-based Cabot Learning Federation in September that they have put it into "special measures".

All-boys Culverhay School had been earmarked for closure after operating at half-capacity. But last year Bath & North East Somerset Council overturned its decision following a review and submitted applications to the Government for it to become either an academy or free school.

The school is due to reopen after the summer holidays as a co-educational academy in partnership with the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), which has a track record of success with schools including the King's Oak Academy, formerly Kingsfield, in Kingswood.

South Gloucestershire Council and the Cabot Learning Federation worked together to support the staff and governors at the Kingsfield after Ofsted gave it notice to improve in 2010. CLF was then asked by the governors to take over the running of the school from last September, when it changed its name to the King's Oak Academy.

In the report published today, which graded Culverhay as "unsatisfactory", Ofsted inspectors said uncertainties about Culverhay's future had preoccupied senior leaders and governors and deflected their attention away from the key tasks of monitoring and improving teaching.

Culverhay is a specialist mathematics and computing school but achievement in maths is described in the report as "weak".

On the plus side, the Ofsted report says staff provide a high standard of pastoral care, students' behaviour is described as polite and courteous and attendance had improved steadily since the last inspection.

The school has been told to improve teaching by January 2013 and strengthen the leadership and management team, to raise standards across the board. It will receive further visits from inspectors who will monitor the progress being made.

A statement from the board of governors said the report was disappointing but that they believed the partnership with Cabot Learning Federation, whose sponsors are Rolls Royce and the University of the West of England, would have a positive impact.

It added that the school was currently going through a "complete staffing restructure" and was striving to become an outstanding, co-educational academy.

CLF, based at the John Cabot Academy in Woodside Road, also runs the Bristol Brunel Academy in Kingswood, the Bristol Metropolitan Academy and Hans Price Academy in Weston-super-Mare. 

Last month it was announced that Hillfields Primary School and Oldbury Court Primary School would also be joining the Federation from September, widening the age range to include four- to 19-year-olds.