Donington's Thomas Cowley High School rated as 'inadequate' but will become Cowley Academy in September under South Lincolnshire Academies Trust which also runs Spalding Academy

A secondary school is disappointed after being rated as ‘inadequate’ by inspectors.

The Thomas Cowley High School in Donington is hoping for a fresh start in September when it is officially taken over by the South Lincolnshire Academies Trust - and becomes The Cowley Academy.

During the inspection which took place in July, inspectors identified that “students and staff have been let down”.

They also found that improvements need to be made for attendance, the curriculum, PSHE and careers provision and supporting students with special educational needs.

Glenn Martin, interim head of school, said “The school community is obviously disappointed with this inadequate outcome and how the report represents our school, but it is also important to accept the report in its entirety and recognise that things do need to change.

“I am confident that the future for the school is an exciting one and the trust vision is one the school will now adopt, with the philosophy of offering exceptional education to young people working within a selective area. This is something we feel the students at Cowley Academy deserve.”

The school had been rated as good in the last Ofsted report in 2017.

While the new report is disappointing, it did state that the Thomas Cowley was a “a friendly school where pupils feel safe, want to work hard and want to get a good education.”

Prior to the Ofsted inspection, the Department for Education had identified that the school required improvement.

The trust has experience of transforming schools including Spalding Academy.

Lucy Conley, executive headteacher, said she had written to parents following the report and is confident that the school will improve.

She said: “Rather than focus on the past, we want to look to the future and we see Cowley Academy joining our trust as being an incredible opportunity for the school to work as part of a group of non-selective secondary schools in Lincolnshire.

“All of the current trust schools are hugely successful, which is what we all want to see for Cowley Academy.

“I am confident that the school will rapidly improve and all parents, carers and students can be completely reassured that all of the staff at the school will continue to work hard with the support of Glenn Martin, officially appointed as Head of School from September 1, and the trust leaders to ensure that Cowley Academy returns to its rightful place of being a Good school in Lincolnshire by improving behaviour and attitudes to learning; SEN; personal development and teaching and learning.

“It is my strong view that all young people deserve to go to a school that is at least good and one that they feel proud to be a part of.”