Ofsted praise for Harrogate school that ‘turns around’ teenagers’ lives

A pupil referral unit in Harrogate which helps students get back into education has won praise from Ofsted inspectors.

Springwell Harrogate – previously known as The Grove Academy – received a ‘good’ rating in its latest report from the schools watchdog.

Inspectors referred to the “strides” taken by students after starting at Springwell, often following a period out of education. They said:

“While at the school, pupils develop their self-esteem, confidence and sense of purpose. Their time at the school has a tremendously positive effect on them.

“For example, many become more engaged in their education. Pupils told inspectors that the school had ‘turned them around’. One parent, echoing the views of others, described the school as a ‘lifeline’ for their youngster.”

The report said the unit, which takes students aged 11 to 16, helped to develop an interest in reading, in other cultures and in their own future careers.

However, it added that the curriculum is most effective for those who are at the school for short periods and less strong for those who are there for more than a year. Inspectors recommended doing more to deepen the curriculum for those staying longer.

They also suggested building on teaching of vocabulary to enable pupils to improve their use and understanding of language.

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Inspectors highlighted the “dramatic” improvement in some pupils’ attendance after staff worked “tirelessly” to encourage them.

They added:

“Since the previous inspection, there have been significant changes at the school, including to the staffing structure. Several new methods for working with pupils have been introduced.

“New leaders and staff are ambitious for pupils and are determined that they succeed in their next steps. Most pupils move back to their original school or to appropriate settings, including college.

“Pupils join having missed large amounts of their schooling and lacking in motivation. The curriculum reignites pupils’ interest in learning.

“It enables pupils to fill some of the gaps they have in reading, writing, mathematics and science.

“The ‘experiential learning programme’ develops pupils’ physical fitness as well as broadening their knowledge of the world around them.”

‘Positive difference’

According to Ofsted, all of Springwell’s 29 pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities and five have education, health and care plans. It takes students from across the Harrogate area.

The school has welcomed the new report, which comes after a difficult two years. Executive principal Scott Jacques said:

“Everybody at Springwell Harrogate is pleased with the outcome of our recent Ofsted inspection and that the school has been recognised as good in all areas.

“The school was under threat of closure when it joined the Wellspring Academy Trust in April 2020, and the report notes the considerable change that the academy has been through since then, which has secured its future.

“We are particularly pleased with the fact that inspectors acknowledge the positive difference Springwell Harrogate makes to the lives and educational journey of the young people with whom we work.

“We would like to thank the pupils for their engagement and positive attitudes and also their parents and carers for their continued support in working with us. We also thank all staff involved for their daily dedication and hard work, and the governing body for backing the vision of the academy.”

Eight staff at Harrogate special needs school face Christmas redundancies

A special needs school in Harrogate is set to make eight members of staff redundant this Christmas after budget cuts.

The cuts have prompted fears that Springwell Harrogate, which was previously known as The Grove Academy, will offer a “dramatically reduced service” for pupils with emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.

The school, on Grove Road, became part of Wellspring Academy Trust in spring after previously being run by North Yorkshire County Council and Delta Academies Trust.

Demand for the additional support provided by the school is rising but the reduction in the budget, which it is believed has been halved, has prompted concerns from campaigners and councillors.

Alex Boyce, spokesperson for Save the Grove, which was set up two years ago amid fears the school might close, said it was a “tremendous relief” the school would stay open but added:

“From January it will only be able to offer a dramatically reduced service. Highly skilled staff with decades of experience will be lost and the curriculum will have to narrow.

“The crisis will have a significant knock-on effect for local mainstream schools. With insufficient funding to manage the complex needs of some students and a dire lack of alternative schools, like the Grove, their hands are tied.

“Many similar services across the county, which rely on funding from the special needs budget have suffered a similar fate.”

John Warren, outgoing headteacher of Springwell Harrogate, said:

“The whole system is buckling through years of chronic underfunding.

“The pandemic has shown the stark truth of just how many desperate families are out there needing help.

“I fear that some specialist provisions may fail in the next year or so because they are no longer financially viable, despite a time of national need for more community resources to support struggling children.”

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Philip Broadbank, a Liberal Democrat who represents Harrogate Starbeck on North Yorkshire County Council, said:

” I could not support the closure and restructuring of the Grove Academy and have concerns about the viability of the new Springwell Academy.

“My main concerns are the staffing levels as they are now considerably reduced.

Wellspring Academy Trust said in a statement that changes to funding occurred when the school was under the management of the previous trust. It added:

“There have been no reductions in funding since Springwell Harrogate became part of the Wellspring community. Any legacy budgeting challenges have been overcome and the school is now on a firm financial footing.

“We are all focused on the future, and determined to deliver the exceptional levels of education our pupils in Harrogate deserve.”

If you or your child have attended schools such as Springwell Harrogate and you would be happy to talk about your experiences. Please get in touch with us via email on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk