The Harbour School

Overview

The inspection concludes that the school requires special measures because it is "failing to provide an acceptable standard of education" and leaders are not demonstrating the capacity to secure necessary improvements. While safeguarding standards are met and there are pockets of success in specific provisions, most pupils suffer from extremely low attendance and significant gaps in knowledge, leaving them ill-prepared for future success.

Strengths

• Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed.
• Staff are skilled in helping pupils manage emotions, creating a "typically calm" environment with positive relationships.
• The curriculum is "well designed and logically sequenced," with new vocational courses at Key Stage 4 that Year 10 pupils appreciate.
• Specific provisions, such as the medical unit and football academy, successfully re-engage vulnerable pupils.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must urgently develop effective strategies to raise attendance and ensure part-time timetables follow government guidance.
• Recent curriculum and teaching improvements must be embedded to help pupils fill learning gaps and improve achievement.
• The trust must improve its oversight to better support school leaders and comprehensively reduce barriers to learning.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding standards are met, noting that leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.