A TROUBLED West Somerset school has again been visited by education inspectors who said ‘significant improvement’ was needed because it was performing well below expected levels.

Danesfield Middle School, Williton, which has seen 13 changes of headteacher in 12 years, received three ‘urgent improvement’ ratings and three ‘needs attention’ across the areas which were inspected.

But, for the first time in more than a decade, the Ofsted visit highlighted some positives under the leadership of new headteacher Jo Smith.

It was noted also that the inspectors had arrived just a few weeks after Mrs Smith took charge last September.

Mrs Smith said: “While Danesfield has experienced a challenging period in recent years, I am pleased Ofsted has recognised the rapid improvement work already underway.

“Over the past year, the whole team have worked incredibly hard to strengthen the culture of our school, focusing on safeguarding, inclusion, and ensuring every pupil feels supported to succeed.”

Danesfield is part of the Beacon Education Trust, whose interim chief executive Trudy Danby said: “I am pleased with inspectors acknowledging the school now has the leadership capacity needed to drive further improvements.

“This is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all the staff and leadership team.”

Lead Ofsted inspector Sarah Favager-Dalton said ‘turbulence’ in the school’s leadership and staffing had negatively impacted on pupils.

Ms Favager-Dalton said: “Leaders have yet to fully embed an inclusive school culture.

“Leaders have not ensured staff have the knowledge and expertise to best support pupils to overcome their individual barriers to learning or personal development.

“A prolonged period of instability within the school and the multi-academy trust has hampered efforts to bring about the necessary improvement.

“Despite this, recently appointed school leaders have an accurate understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses.

“In the short amount of time since starting, leaders have identified and prioritised the initial areas to improve.

“Leaders have begun to develop a more positive culture, including around behaviour, and by starting to strengthen relationships with families.”

Ms Favager-Dalton said there were significant concerns among parents about ‘all aspects of the school’, although they were more positive about how leaders acted in the best interests of pupils.

She said pastoral support of pupils was given a high priority and they had access to wellbeing support, and opportunities to develop their talents and interests were increasing.

However, Ms Favager-Dalton said: “Pupils do not achieve as well as they should.

“Many do not read or write well and have gaps in their mathematics knowledge.

“They are not well prepared for their next stages in learning.

“Pupils’ classwork is not of a high standard.

“The quality of written work for pupils of all ages is generally poor.”

Ms Favager-Dalton said over the past three years the average percentage of Danesfield pupils achieving expected standards in reading, writing, and mathematics combined was 29 per cent against a national average of 61 per cent.

And the average percentage of disadvantaged pupils reaching the standard was just nine per cent compared to 46 per cent nationally.