Ofsted indicates Boroughbridge High School’s ‘good’ grade under threat

Boroughbridge High School has maintained its ‘good’ Ofsted rating — but the schools inspector indicated the grade “might not be as high” if it had carried out a full inspection.

The 446-pupil school’s Ofsted report was published this week following a short inspection on January 11 and 12.

The school received a ‘good’ grading in its last full Ofsted inspection in 2012.

Schools assessed to be ‘good’ do not receive graded judgements on their next visit.

Instead they are subject to short inspections and if Ofsted finds evidence that they would now receive a higher or lower grade, they are told they will receive a full inspection next time — which is what happened in this instance.

The school was commended for its approach to tackling bullying. Pupils said they know adults will help if it occurs and it is “very rare”. The school was also praised for creating a positive atmosphere where pupils feel safe.

The report added leaders have coped well with the pandemic and have adapted the curriculum to ensure pupils have time to catch-up on missed work, such as science lessons.

Enrichment opportunities and the focus on individual pupils’ needs also earned praise. Safeguarding was deemed “effective”.

Classroom disruption

But the report raised concerns around an ‘inconsistent approach to dealing with low-level disruption’ — a view shared by parents.

It also said ‘teachers do not always make their expectations clear’ and ‘plans to develop pupils’ love of reading are not well embedded’.

Inspectors will return to the school within two years for a full inspection.

The report says:

“In some lessons, some pupils lack engagement. Teachers do not always have high enough expectations of pupils’ behaviour in lessons.  Staff do not consistently apply expectations around uniform. Consequently, pupils’ attitudes are variable.

“Governors do not challenge leaders about standards of behaviour, to ensure that what leaders tell them is accurate.”

Kathryn Stephenson, the school headteacher

Headteacher Kathryn Stephenson said:

“We are delighted that inspectors recognised that pupils within the Boroughbridge High School community are safe, happy and successful.

“We are determined to get back to our pre-pandemic standards as quickly as possible whilst we continue to drive forward on these action points before Ofsted return. We look forward to working with our students and their families on the next part of our journey.”

Read more:

Sixth form closure

School governors decided this month to temporarily close the sixth form in the summer due to issues with funding and declining student numbers.

The Ofsted report says there are currently only 12 sixth form students.

All courses and pastoral support will transfer to King James’s School in Knaresborough. The two schools federated last year.

Stray Views: Harrogate councillors are riding roughshod over Knaresborough

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate is riding roughshod over Knaresborough with this unwanted new pool

Thank you for the report on Ripon’s issues with Brimhams Active. We in Knaresborough understand that Harrogate Borough Council officers have recommended that Harrogate Borough Council’s plans to demolish the pool and build from scratch be approved despite all the carefully prepared plans for more sustainable, more attractive, more appropriate — and cheaper — proposals.

This means Harrogate Borough Council is, as usual, riding roughshod over the views of the residents of another ancient market town.

Knaresborough Civic Society and many others have objected strongly. Many people are concerned that public land, given to the people of Knaresborough, is being commandeered by the private company Brimhams Active who will then charge inordinately high prices.

The excellent free play area will be built over and may never be replaced, leaving whole year groups of children and families without this valuable resource – possibly forever. About 20 mature trees will be chopped down. The embodied carbon cost of a new build and removal of the current pool would be immense as a pool needs enormous quantities of concrete.

The proposed new build even includes gas heating, which in the context of a climate crisis is an unforgivable gratuitous use of fossil fuels.

Knaresborough wants something to be proud of which gives the right messages, not an inappropriate building tying us in to last century’s costly and dangerous habits. A very big question is who will Brimhams Active be accountable to when Harrogate Borough Council vanishes? Who will own the building and the land? Who will profit?

This is not the time to demolish a perfectly good pool. It could remain open whilst work was done to build around and above it to add facilities such as a treetop cafe and fitness suites.

Nobody asked for a new pool; the concept appeared out of the blue, so the question must be asked — who are the real beneficiaries of these expensive and unsustainable plans? The people of Knaresborough are having free access to green spaces stolen from under their noses.

Shan Oakes, Knaresborough

Read more:

Boroughbridge school governors need to rethink

As three-times ex-Mayor and a school governor in Ripon for many years, I am appalled and concerned that sixth form provision is proposed to be removed from Boroughbridge High School, especially with the present addition of many new houses in the town.

How can this make sense to the governing body when students will have to travel into Knaresborough, increasing the carbon footprint of St James’ School? Surely governors should be wanting to reduce the carbon output by students in Boroughbridge and Knaresborough.

However, the greatest threat is to the young people of the town. Removing the great opportunities for students that sixth form life offers is unforgivable, unacceptable and unbelievable; the governors need to rethink their action.

Michael Stanley, Ripon

Econ boss is right — we need more apprenticeships instead of third-rate degrees

I wholeheartedly agree with Econ Engineering‘s Jonathan Lupton’s observations about the need for more apprenticeships.

I could rant on, but shall refrain from so doing, about youngsters almost being conned into enrolling at third-rate universities and emerging with commercially worthless degrees.

Apprenticeships for those with A-levels and similar have always been quite readily available. However, the same cannot be said for those who leave school with no qualifications, either because they are not academically inclined or for a variety of other reasons.

It is these youngsters who desperately need to be able and to have the encouragement to get qualifications through apprenticeships. Unfortunately that window has virtually disappeared in this country. I am sure that is not so in the likes Germany, the Netherlands and many of the eastern European countries.

Richard Goldstein, Harrogate

 

Boroughbridge High School agrees to close sixth form

Boroughbridge High School will temporarily close its sixth form in the summer due to issues with funding and declining student numbers.

It means the school will suspend applications for the sixth form from September 2022. All courses and pastoral support will transfer to King James’s School in Knaresborough.

The two schools federated last year, which means they have a single governing body overseeing both schools.

Boroughbridge High School held a consultation with staff, students, parents/carers and governors from mid-November to mid-December 2021 — just three people responded and they all opposed the move.

They raised concerns about increased travel times/cost, the suitability of alternative post-16 education in the area and the loss of relationships between students and teachers.

A letter sent to parents/carers yesterday revealed how the school received “a number of additional responses” ahead of the governing body’s meeting, which they took into account.

Read more:

There are currently 12 students in the sixth form — the governors do not believe that such numbers are financially or educationally sustainable.

After two years, the school will hold another consultation on the future of the sixth form.

Malcolm Dawson, chair of governors, said:

“It is not effective educationally for students to be taught in classes of one or two students.

“We have examined the situation carefully and believe this is the best way forward for the communities around Boroughbridge.”

A minibus service operates between the two sites.

Kathryn Stephenson is the headteacher at Boroughbridge High School.

Headteacher Kathryn Stephenson said:

“This is a decision which has not been taken lightly.

“Over the last few years, the school and governing body have worked tirelessly to ensure that our students have access to a high-quality post-16 provision.

“We are extremely proud of the outstanding results our students have achieved, enabling them to access many top universities.

“However, changing demographics combined with funding changes mean it is not viable to continue to operate our sixth form at the current time.”

Concern over level of consultation

Town and parish councillors in Boroughbridge High School’s catchment area have concerns about the level of consultation on the proposed closure of the sixth form.

Boroughbridge Town Council met with a school governor on Tuesday.

According to sources, councillors told the governor they had not been consulted and requested another meeting with more representatives from the school.

They said nearby Langthorpe Parish Council and Kirby Hill and District Parish Council share the same concerns. No meeting date has been set yet.

Concern over lack of consultation on proposed Boroughbridge sixth form closure

Town and parish councillors in Boroughbridge High School’s catchment area have concerns about the level of consultation on the proposed closure of the sixth form.

The school held a consultation between mid-November and mid-December on the proposal, which would see all sixth form courses and pastoral support transfer to King James’s School in Knaresborough for two years from September.

The two schools federated last year, which means they have a single governing body overseeing both schools.

Staff, students, parents/carers and governors were asked for their thoughts on suspending the sixth form.

But local councils have concerns the consultation was not wide enough.

Boroughbridge Town Council met with a school governor on Tuesday.

Read more:

According to sources, councillors told the governor they had not been consulted and requested another meeting with more representatives from the school.

They said nearby Langthorpe Parish Council and Kirby Hill and District Parish Council share the same concerns.

No meeting date has been set yet. However, councillors plan to quiz the school on how it can increase student uptake, its future plans and what the two-year suspension would mean in practice.

The Stray Ferret asked the federation of governors whether a decision has been made following its meeting on the consultation last week.

The chair declined to comment until all parents and carers have been informed.

However, the school is expected to announce its decision shortly.

Former governors call for Boroughbridge sixth form to remain open

Three former governors of Boroughbridge High School have called for the potential closure of its sixth form to be stopped.

It comes as parents await the decision of the federated governing body of Boroughbridge High School and King James’s School in Knaresborough, which met last night.

The school held a consultation with staff, students, parents/carers and governors from mid-November to mid-December 2021. It asked for thoughts on the ‘suspension of the sixth form for up to two years’.

If the plan goes ahead then the sixth form will not reopen in September.

The Stray Ferret asked current chair Malcolm Dawson for the outcome of last night’s meeting but he declined to comment, saying parents would be notified first.

It is unclear when the results will be announced publicly.

Read more:

The consultation process and the decision itself has come under scrutiny in the last week.

Dr Ron Nixon, a former GP and one of the school’s founding governors, told the Stray Ferret:

“I just do not understand how this has happened. I do not like the smell of it. If it does close for two years then, realistically, what are the chances of it reopening?

“The closure of the sixth form would not only be a disaster for the school but also the wider community, which has grown rapidly over recent years.”

Brian Dooks, who served as a governor of Boroughbridge Primary School and Boroughbridge High School for nearly 20 years, told the Stray Ferret:

“I am disturbed and alarmed to learn that Boroughbridge High School could be about to lose its on-site sixth form.

“I was one of the governors who fought long and hard for the creation of the sixth form, which was attended by my two daughters.

“My former governors will take some serious persuading that it will not rapidly become a permanent solution to the detriment of generations of young people.

“In the last 10 years the Boroughbridge population has exploded. If there was justification for a sixth form in the 1990s, that must be true in 2022.”

Another former chair of governors, who asked not to be named, added:

“I just want the school to succeed. This was meant to be a consultation with parents but I am struggling to find parents who knew anything about it. They are angry.”

What’s your view of the proposed closure? Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Closure of Boroughbridge High School sixth form to be discussed this week

A proposal to close the sixth form at Boroughbridge High School for up to two years will be discussed this week.

The school held a consultation with staff, students, parents/carers and governors from mid-November to mid-December 2021 — it has not yet released the results.

The consultation asked for thoughts on the “suspension of sixth form from September 2022 for up to two years”. It added:

“Due to the demographics of the area, numbers on roll at Boroughbridge High School have decreased.

“That is making it more difficult to maintain viable class sizes at post-16. Both in terms of quality of experience, subject breadth and financial viability.”

Federation with King James’ School

Boroughbridge High School and King James’s School in Knaresborough federated in January 2021.

The federation of governors, which act on behalf of both schools, will discuss the proposal on Thursday.

A federation is a formal agreement between two or more schools to work together to raise standards while remaining separate.

Currently, sixth form students attend both schools depending on their subjects. Under the proposal, King James’s School would provide all courses and pastoral support.

Read more:

The Stray Ferret asked for an interview with Boroughbridge High School. Headteacher Kathryn Stephenson (pictured) said in a statement:

“The proposal is to temporarily suspend sixth form provision at Boroughbridge High School from September 2022 for a period of up to two years.

“The responses to the consultation will be considered by the governing body at its next meeting.”

‘Disturbed and alarmed’

Brian Dooks, who served as a governor of Boroughbridge Primary School and Boroughbridge High School for nearly 20 years, told the Stray Ferret:

“I am disturbed and alarmed to learn that Boroughbridge High School could be about to lose its on-site sixth form.

“I was one of the governors who fought long and hard for the creation of the sixth form, which was attended by my two daughters.

“My former governors will take some serious persuading that it will not rapidly become a permanent solution to the detriment of generations of young people.

“In the last 10 years the Boroughbridge population has exploded. If there was justification for a sixth form in the 1990s, that must be true in 2022.”

Schools open for covid testing as classroom return looms

The first pupils across the Harrogate district have been receiving covid tests as schools prepare for a return to classroom-only teaching.

Harrogate Grammar, Harrogate High, St John Fisher and St Aidan’s schools in Harrogate, as well as Outwood Academy in Ripon, have all begun offering tests to their students this week.

Each will complete the first round of testing of all pupils by the middle of next week, after which the second and third rounds will be offered.

Harrogate Grammar School began its testing programme with its 600 sixth formers today, before working its way down the year groups in the first half of next week. Headteacher Neil Renton said:

“The testing today is going really well. We’ve got 10 testing bays in action and we’re testing 100 students every hour.

“We’re starting with year 12 and 13 students because our sixth form is so large – about 600 students. We wanted to make sure things were working, because if we didn’t get this right we would have to re-think our testing for next week.”

Fortunately, Mr Renton said, the trial had run smoothly, with a high percentage of parents giving consent for testing to take place. He praised the efforts of 30 members of staff who had been trained up to help students to follow the right procedures, led by business operations manager Tom Stephens.

Read more:

Asked about the impact of testing on schools’ ability to keep students in classrooms, Mr Renton said:

“The way I’m seeing it is it’s an additional measure we didn’t have before. I know there’s a huge debate about the efficacy of testing, but it’s what we’ve been asked to do and if it finds and breaks transmission of a couple of asymptomatic cases, it has been worth doing.”

At St Aidan’s, years 7, 11 and 13 have been tested yesterday and today, before returning to in-person lessons on Monday. Years 10 and 12 will be tested on Monday, year 8 on Tuesday and year 9 on Wednesday, each then coming back to the classroom the following day.

Like most of the district’s schools, St Aidan’s is also repurposing existing facilities to accommodate a temporary testing centre. A spokesperson for the school said:

“The 16 bay testing facility is situated in Constance Green Hall, usually the home to assemblies, theatrical productions, proms and fantastic musical performances all year round.

“The in-school arrangements for the return of students will be similar to the measures we had in place in the autumn term, with year group bubbles, staggered lesson times, lunches, arrival and departure times, but with the addition of further control measures including the wearing of face coverings in lessons.”

To ease any anxiety about the testing process, both St Aidan’s and Harrogate Grammar School have created virtual tours of their facilities for students.

Ripon Grammar School's sports hall set up ready for covid testing

Ripon Grammar School’s sports hall set up ready for covid testing from Monday

Meanwhile, St John Fisher tested its year 11 and 13 pupils yesterday ready for them to return to school on Monday, when years 10 and 12 will be tested, followed by lower year groups through the week.

Harrogate High School has offered tests to years 10 and 11 today, with the remaining students being tested on Monday.

At both Boroughbridge High School and Outwood Academy Ripon, testing is being carried out before students return to the classroom by the middle of next week. Similarly, Ripon Grammar School begins testing on Monday and all year groups will be back in school by the end of the week.

After three rounds of tests, students across the country will be given home tests to use twice a week. The aim is to identify asymptomatic cases of covid before it can be spread to more pupils, helping to reduce the need for isolating and to keep more students in schools.