A RAYLEIGH school ordered to make urgent improvements has hit back at Ofsted and criticised the “snapshot” approach of inspections. 

The Sweyne Park School has plummeted from an outstanding rating down to being branded “requires improvement”. 

However, in a letter, seen by the Echo, to parents and carers from headteacher Katherine Dines, the school has hit back at Ofsted stating it is not an “accurate reflection”.

READ MORE >> Rayleigh school plummets to 'requires improvement' rating after Ofsted visit

Behaviour at the school has been criticised, however the headteacher admitted there is a “small group of students” who have not adapted to returning to school since lockdown. 

In the letter, headteacher Ms Dines, writes: “Whilst we have never self-evaluated ourselves as “’outstanding’ we do consider our school to be ‘good’, and this is reflected by the many positive comments contained within the report.

“We were disappointed in the overall judgement of requires improvement, especially in light of the fact that quality of education, personal development, sixth form and leadership and management were graded as ‘good’ with safeguarding graded as ‘effective’.

“In respect of behaviour and attitudes, we accept there is a small minority of pupils who have not adjusted to an environment with boundaries since returning to school after lockdown, and who do not subscribe to our school ethos.

“However, we do not consider the snapshot taken by Ofsted in this category to be an accurate reflection on the conduct of the overwhelming majority of our pupils, who embrace our simple rule of respect, and who comply with our Behaviour Policy.”

Sweyne Park is a long-standing school that was formed back in 1997 and this is the first time in the school’s history they have been rated below “good”.

The headteacher added: “Regrettably, Ofsted took the view that they were not yet able to see the impact of all the work we have been doing to address and support the behaviour of the small minority of challenging pupils since they returned from the periods of school closure during the pandemic, as well as work we have undertaken to improve attendance.

“Therefore, despite receiving a ‘good’ judgement in all but one category, it was the ‘requires improvement” grade that determined the overall effectiveness grading.”