Safeguarding at a Hazlemere junior school has been called into question by Ofsted inspectors, who deemed the school to be inadequate.

Staff at Manor Farm Junior School in Rose Avenue say the Ofsted inspection came just one month after a new senior leadership team was put in place following the simultaneous exit of both the head and the deputy head teacher.

Ofsted inspectors visited the school on October 12 and 13 last year and while they praised the pupils, they highlighted a string of issues with safeguarding and the curriculum.

ALSO READ: High Wycombe street cordoned off due to 'burning smell' coming fom under road

Their report said leaders have “failed to create a culture where staff prioritise pupils’ welfare and safety” and haven’t been given sufficient training on signs to look out for to keep all pupils safe.

They also highlighted how procedures for recording and reporting safeguarding issues are not thorough enough and urged the school to give teachers training on this “as a matter of urgency”.

Inspectors also believe the teaching of reading is not prioritised highly enough and the school’s curriculum is “not ambitious enough”.

They said: “In too many subjects, leaders have not planned the content pupils will learn, and in which order they will learn it, effectively. Leaders need to structure the curriculum so that pupils’ learning builds cumulatively.”

ALSO READ: Fishing wire tied between trees labelled as 'malicious act'

They also claimed the governors do not understand the school’s weaknesses well enough because they “have not checked on the school’s work with sufficient vigour”.

Inspectors did acknowledge that the new head teacher has “identified weaknesses in the curriculum and has begun to address these” and that “pupils love come to school because it is a friendly, welcoming place to be”.

In a statement, Manor Farm said: “A change of leadership (simultaneous exit of the head and deputy head teacher and the introduction of a new leadership team) after a period of unprecedented change and focus due to the pandemic triggered an Ofsted inspection just one month into the leadership team’s arrival at our school.

“The inspection highlighted lessons to be learnt/reflections on historic leadership and confirmed areas that needed rapid improvement and action by the current team.

ALSO READ: Supply teacher banned after being caught watching porn during school day

“Further weaknesses, particularly with safeguarding administrative processes and evidence, were explored and questioned.

“The evaluations made were that, over time, processes have not been robust or checked thoroughly enough. Leaders had been working through these inefficiencies since September, unfortunately, due to the scale of improvement required not enough was done in the short timescales available to make a large enough impact.

“Leaders and governors very much see the Ofsted inspection as a position to build from and, as many of the findings were observed by the new team in September 2021, they were already working to rectify the shortfall.

“Since the inspection, the school has been working closely with the local authority, the Regional Schools Commissioner and other local schools to create rapid change and improvement across the school.

ALSO READ: Chesham nan loses over six stone after husband of 33 years passes away

“The school will become part of a Multi-Academy Trust as part of its improvement schedule; a statement of action has been developed with these bodies and has been shared with potential sponsors.”

“The parent body has been overwhelmingly supportive and the governing board has restructured to enable them to offer more support and robust challenge moving forward.

“We are very proud of Manor Farm Community Juniors; pupils are safe, happy and continue to love their school; they are well behaved, have an excellent attitude to learning and there are good systems in place to ensure their personal development is supported well.

“We know the community will work with us to support us in driving rapid improvement alongside the new school leadership team and staff who are all working together and striving to make our school a ‘Good’ school again.”