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‘Potential for Violence’ Ofsted finds at Inadequate Bristol Alternative Provision

March 31, 2022 Chopsy Baby

The ‘regular potential for violence’ at a ‘neglected’ Alternative Provision (AP) in Bristol, has seen an education setting hit with an inadequate rating following an Ofsted inspection this year.

Lansdown Park Academy was inspected by Ofsted in February this year and rated ‘Inadequate’ in all areas.

The quality of education pupils are receiving in the secondary provision is described as ‘poor’ with the provision demonstrating ‘low expectations’.

Worryingly, is the ‘regular’ possibility of violence between groups of pupils. Leaders have now been forced to adjust timetables so that different groups of pupils do not meet on site. This has left those attending the provision with timetables of activities not meeting their needs and without the quality of education and support they need.

Bristol City Council is commissioning short-term places at the provision with the aim that pupils are return to mainstream schools or are ‘quickly’ placed in a specialist setting.

But Ofsted found pupils at the AP were left at the setting for a ‘long period of time’ with the curriculum described as ‘inappropriate’ and not addressing the needs of pupils ‘in any systematic way’.

Ofsted said that ‘many’ of the pupils have special educational needs or disabilities (Send). Their needs were not being met and staff did ‘not’ having the specialist skills or knowledge they needed to help them.

Pupils attending the provision were found to have ‘little ambition’ with Ofsted saying that some saw the future as being one in ‘prison or juvenile detention’.

To improve, Ofsted set out a series areas the AP needs to tackle, including agreeing what is the actual nature of intervention the setting should provide to pupils. It must also address curriculum issues, improve pupils’ experiences and raise expectations.

To read the full report: https://www.lansdown.learnmat.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=379&type=pdf