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A school where GCSE pupils were given "primary school" work has been branded 'inadequate' by inspectors.

Norham High School, in North Tyneside, had been improving, according to Ofsted, but a fall in GCSE scores led to a damning new report.

The school was first branded 'inadequate' in 2014. Executive head David Baldwin, who had already helped transform Wallsend’s Churchill Community College into an 'outstanding' school, stepped in in 2015, and seemed to be turning things around.

In 2016, the school was upgraded to 'requires improvement' - just one step away from good. Reporting its 'best-ever' GCSE results that year, Norham was, inspectors said, "taking effective action" towards boosting pupils' outcomes.

Yet following inspectors' latest visit, in October last year, Norham has been plunged into special measures.

In a damning report, published this month, Ofsted representatives said: "Leaders do not have the capacity to improve the school. They do not have an accurate understanding of the weaknesses in the school or how to tackle them effectively."

So what changed?

According to the inspection report, results at the school went into a "sharp decline" after 2016's peak at "broadly average".

The fall in 2017 was followed by worse results in 2018, which leaders had not managed to halt, the report says.

"Many of the same weaknesses" spotted at the last inspection haven't been removed, while leaders are accused of having an "overly positive" view of the standard of teaching, inspectors said.

Leaders at North Tyneside council say curriculum changes and the new style of GCSE exams increased the challenge for the struggling school.

But inspectors say teaching simply hasn't been good enough. In the report, they claim Year 9 students were doing the same work in their maths lessons as the "least able" Year 7 students.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Meanwhile some pupils at the start of GCSE maths courses "repeatedly complete arithmetic normally expected of primary school pupils".

And, partly because of the insufficiently challenging lessons, behavior was 'inadequate', too.

Inspectors said: "Too often, the conduct of pupils in lessons is poor. This is because, frequently, the work does not challenge them, and they become bored. This leads to some persistent low-level disruption. On occasions, pupils get out of their seats, talk over the teacher and shout out"

Council bosses say they've brought heads from other schools to offer support and are "steadfastly committed" to improving Norham's results. But, under Government rules, as an 'inadequate' local authority school, Norham will now have to be taken over by an academy chain.

Executive Headteacher, David Baldwin, said: "We are all hugely disappointed to receive this verdict from Oftsed.

"Everyone has worked so hard to get Norham High School back on track. We achieved our best ever GCSE results as recently as 2016 so this comes as a real blow to all our hardworking students and staff.

"We accept that results need to improve and we know that we have a big challenge ahead, especially as exams continue to get tougher."

Inspectors did describe Norham as "an inclusive community where discriminatory language and attitudes are challenged" and praised the provision for students with special educational needs and disabilities.

Subject leaders were described as "committed and energetic" while pupils were prepared well for life after school.

Jacqui Old, Director for Children and Adult Services, North Tyneside Council, said: "Without doubt, the findings within the report are hugely disappointing. The school has had a number of challenges over the years and transformation of this scale undoubtedly takes time.

"The recent changes to the curriculum and assessment of children have also proved to be a challenge. That said, the council remains steadfastly committed to working tirelessly to quickly address the remaining areas that have been identified by Ofsted as still falling short of where they need to be.

"We want to provide the best opportunities for all children at the school and we will work with the surrounding community to put things right.

"We have now brought further leadership capacity into the school through Sir Ken Gibson, Executive Headteacher of Harton Academy, and we are also working closely with the school’s governing body, the Regional Schools Commissioner, and national leaders in education to find the best solution for this part of the borough."