BREAKING NEWS: Littlehampton Academy placed in special measures

In an Ofsted report seen by the Gazette, the school was judged to be ‘inadequate’ in three out of four areas.

The long-awaited report is more than a month late and had been due to be published on January 10.

Ofsted is understood to be officially publishing the full report next week.

Overall, the school was classed as inadequate – the worst rating Ofsted gives schools – and placed into special measures.

Those areas where the school was judged to be inadequate were: the achievement of the pupils, quality of the teaching, and leadership and management.

The behaviour and safety of the pupils was judged as ‘requiring improvement’.

In a damning report, the watchdog said the school had not improved sufficiently since its last inspection in September, 2011, and that most students were making ‘inadequate progress’.

The school had last been judged as satisfactory.

Ofsted also said former principal Steve Jewell, who resigned with effect from December 31, had ‘not given strong enough direction for the academy or ensured it has improved students’ progress or the quality of

teaching sufficiently’.

The report did point to a few positives, however.

It said the sixth form was ‘good’, adding students made good progress and teachers provided them with a

high level of support and guidance.

Students who are autistic also make good progress, Ofsted said, and attendance and behaviour had improved significantly in the last year.

The school was also credited for providing good care for its students and ensuring they were safe.

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Please get in touch with reporter Alex Therrien by emailing [email protected] or phoning 01903 282367.

Updates to follow.