Mayfield School in Portsmouth to join trust after 'inadequate' Ofsted inspection

Mayfield School in Mayfield Road, North End was criticised for the prevalence of ‘bullying and harassment’ among older students with many left feeling unsafe after an inspection by the education watchdog at the end of last year.

The Ofsted report, carried out in November and published in February, gave the school its lowest rating with both behaviour and leadership also determined to be ‘inadequate’. It found the school’s new headteacher, Ashley Howard – who started in September – had begun to make improvements but that in November these had ‘not yet had a strong enough impact’.

The report said: ‘Leaders’ actions in the past have not adequately addressed poor behaviour and attitudes in the school. Governors and senior leaders have confidence in the new headteacher to make rapid improvements.’

The report also outlined the problems: ‘Pupils in the senior school are not always protected from bullying and harassment. Many older pupils told inspectors that discriminatory language is used often in the school.

‘A number of pupils and staff feel unsafe due to the disorderly and sometimes aggressive behaviour of some pupils in corridors.’

The full Ofsted in November 2022 was carried out after an initial assessment in November 2021. The school kept the rating of ‘good’ after the 2021 assessment but the inspectors said that it would likely have lost this rating during a full inspection – so returned a year later. The former headteacher David Jeapes left during the last academic year.

The Ofsted inspectors did find that the curriculum was ‘well-sequenced’ and that ‘many pupils in the senior school want to learn and achieve well’.

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As a result of the inadequate rating, the Department for Education told the school, which caters for pupils ages four to 16, it needed to join a multi-academy trust. It has now been confirmed that this will be Salterns Academy Trust, which already runs Admiral Lord Nelson and Trafalgar schools.

Nys Hardingham, the trust’s chief executive and a former headteacher of Admiral Lord Nelson School, said the addition of a third school would benefit all three schools.

‘We’re delighted to have been selected to support Mayfield School and are looking forward to working with the whole school community over the coming months,’ she said. ‘We want to have open and honest conversations and work together to make positive changes and build a thriving, successful and inclusive Mayfield School.

‘This is a fantastic opportunity for three schools in the city to work closely together, share expertise and go from strength to strength.’

The trust was formed in 2014 with both of its schools having been rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted.

The decision for Mayfield School to join has been welcomed by councillor Suzy Horton, the deputy leader of Portsmouth City Council and its cabinet member for education.

‘We look forward to working with Salterns Academy Trust, the headteacher and the whole team at Mayfield School and supporting them as they build on the improvements already being made at the school,’ she said. ‘We will continue to work closely with the school and offer support through the council’s school improvement and inclusion services and the Portsmouth Children’s Safeguarding Partnership.’

The school will initially work in partnership with the trust before joining later this year.

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