Westbourne Academy in Ipswich rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted

Westbourne Academy in Marlow Road was visited by Ofsted in June, with inspectors finding staff and other students were "intimidated" by poor behaviour which included abusive language.

The school was previously rated in 'good' in an inspection last year, but was downgraded in all areas - quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.Striking staff at Westbourne Academy in May (Image: Lucy Taylor)

While Westbourne was given praise for the attitude from its staff and the majority of its students, "disruptive behaviour in lessons and corridors" from a section of students affects the running of the school.

Katherine Moore of the NASUWT (Image: Lucy Taylor) The inspectors found: "Learning is frequently interrupted by the poor behaviour of some pupils.

"This behaviour can be intimidating and leaves some staff and pupils feeling nervous and unsettled."

Ofsted inspectors found that the support for students with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) was lacking, as the school does not have the appropriate measures in place to help the students access their learning successfully.  

Staff at the school had said that poor behaviour had been reported for more than a year (Image: Lucy Taylor) They also found that students using "derogatory language, linked to race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation" had become normalised and so was often not reported to staff. 

Attendance was also found to be "low and show little sign of sustained improvement. Too many pupils are regularly absent from school, which affects their learning, their personal development and their sense of belonging."

Academy Transformation Trust, which manages Westbourne Academy, said: "The recent Ofsted report into Westbourne Academy rightly highlights a number of important strengths.

"Inspectors recognised the dedication of staff, the politeness and hard work of the majority of students, the structure and ambition of the curriculum, and the strength of safeguarding arrangements. These are vital foundations on which we continue to build.

Westbourne Academy in Marlow Road (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown) "At the same time, the report reflects challenges that we had already identified and begun addressing with urgency. We fully accept the seriousness of the issues outlined - particularly around behaviour, attendance, and provision for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). But we do not accept Ofsted’s assessment that the academy lacks the capacity to improve.

"The inspection offers a limited snapshot - two days in the life of a complex school. Our knowledge of Westbourne is far deeper, built over more than a decade of partnership with its staff, leaders and community. We are confident in our understanding of the school’s challenges and in our ability to deliver sustained improvement.

"Since the last inspection in June 2024, we have accelerated both support and challenge at Westbourne, resulting in key leadership changes that are already driving progress. We know the issues, and we know how to fix them.

"Academy Transformation Trust has a strong and proven track record of school improvement across its 22 schools, many in demanding contexts. We will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with the Westbourne team to ensure every child receives the high-quality education they deserve."

Following the strikes, the school hired a new vice-principal to help tackle behaviour, with a new system of dealing with disruptive students implemented from the start of June.