Silverdale School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 April 2025

Inconsistencies in the school's approach to behaviour management, coupled with a weak oversight of pupils' welfare, contribute to an ineffective safeguarding culture. Some pupils do not feel safe due to the behaviour and attitudes of their peers. Many pupils do not report concerns because they do not trust the school to deal with them. Some members of staff report that they do not have the support from senior leaders to keep themselves, or pupils, safe from harm. Swearing and the use of derogatory comments by pupils are commonplace. Pupils' rates of attendance are low. The school has not acted quickly enough to improve attendance since the previous inspection in May 2023. This has declined further. Classes are closed on a regular basis due to staff absence. When this happens, pupils do not have access to a remote learning offer and are not receiving their education entitlement. The school's expectations of pupils are low. Pupils frequently experience a series of disconnected lessons that do not build their knowledge, skills or understanding. Much of the curriculum is not carefully designed or delivered effectively. Pupils do not achieve well. The school does not prepare them well enough for future education or employment.

What the school should improve

• Safeguarding procedures and the checks made on third-party providers are not rigorous enough. In addition, some members of staff have not received appropriate safeguarding training. This leads to inconsistent approaches to safeguarding pupils. Some pupils do not trust that the school will take their concerns seriously. The school must improve safeguarding procedures swiftly, making sure that all staff follow safeguarding procedures consistently and appropriately.
• Some pupils' rates of attendance are very poor. The school does not have effective systems in place to manage pupils' attendance. Staff do not know which pupils are in school or not. This creates additional safeguarding risks. The school must take immediate action to improve the systems to manage pupils' attendance and check their welfare when they are absent. Leaders should ensure that pupils attend school regularly.
• The governing body does not fulfil its statutory responsibilities. Governors have not ensured an effective culture of safeguarding. They have not held the school to account for an increase in pupil absence, an increase in suspensions and a decline in the quality of education that pupils receive. Governors must take swift action to carry out their statutory duties and responsibilities.
• The curriculum is not ambitious enough and does not meet the needs of pupils. Pupils experience a disconnected series of lessons which lack structure. Pupils do not achieve as well as they should. The school must review the content and sequence of learning in the curriculum, so that pupils progress through the curriculum purposefully and achieve well.
• Some pupils do not experience a high-quality personal development programme. Lessons such as PHSE, careers and outdoor education are regularly cancelled. Additionally, the RE curriculum is narrowed. This has a negative impact on pupils' preparation for adulthood. The school must ensure that all pupils are supported to develop the knowledge and skills they need for life in modern Britain.
• Poor behaviour is commonplace. It is not consistently well managed. This means that too many pupils are regularly subject to suspension, missing out on more of their education. The school must take swift action to review how behaviour is managed and ensure that pupils receive the support they need to positively engage with their education.
• There is a lack of capacity in leadership at all levels. The school does not have a strategic approach to school improvement. This impacts on the school's oversight of safeguarding and the quality of education that pupils receive. Governors must work with key stakeholders to strengthen leadership capacity.
• The school may not appoint early career teachers before the next monitoring inspection. The position regarding the appointment of early career teachers will be considered again during any monitoring inspection we carry out.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)