We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Some teachers at Chellaston Academy in Derby say they no longer feel safe at their place of work as they say bad behaviour has been rife this academic year. One member of staff, who wishes to remain anonymous, collated comments made by email from staff across the school, and likened the negative behaviour “to an endemic cancer”.

The report has been sent to the headteacher, who said a number of pupils, at risk of exclusion from other schools, have been admitted to the academy since September last year.

But Ofsted flagged concerns for safeguarding following its last full inspection in July 2019. Monitoring visits since then have found progress has been made to address these issues, Derbyshire Live reports.

Nevertheless, the teacher who put together the report said: “Members of the senior leadership team are making excuses for behaviour instead of admitting that there is a problem, and they are struggling to control it. Staff are no longer prepared to tolerate the decline in behaviour.

“The students at this school want to be educated in an environment conducive to learning. Teachers want to know that their students are safe and are not going to have their right to education taken away by the despicable behaviour of a handful of students that cannot be disciplined.

“The teachers at this school are begging for help to regain the control of their school and return it to a safe and enjoyable place to learn.”

Headteacher discusses impact of children's behaviour in schools

Staff also allege pupils often run around corridors, bang on doors and take staff members’ belongings in front of them. They’ve notified Ofsted of their concerns.

Disruptive students are sent from lessons to The Hive, but staff there say the behaviour is just as bad.

A teacher from The Hive said: “We are all on our knees, and definitely do not feel safe. Students are using inappropriate language to staff, peers and quiet students, who really shouldn’t be open to this language.

“Staff are being pushed and barged into, tables pushed over and chairs, bottles and food being thrown, playing music, refusing to go to lessons or leave the room and spitting.”

Extracts from 17 emails are contained in the document, which has been given to Derbyshire Live, and date back to last November through to late March this year. The document, which is signed by “a frustrated member of Chellaston Academy staff”, has been forwarded to Ofsted on the teachers’ behalf by a concerned parent.

The document also has some comments from staff, which were posted on the union survey that was carried out. These include: “The behaviour at this school is no less than terrifying. Classroom teachers are well versed in behaviour management and are capable but the behaviour that students are exhibiting is so out of control that no teaching member of staff is coping. Staff often feel afraid and unsafe in their working environment and at a loss as to what to do with difficult students. Students that are excluded are sent back into classes after a day and their behaviour is no better.”

Another anonymous teacher comment said: “Staff and students do not feel safe entering certain areas of school in the event they will face students who display intimidating and threatening behaviour. If this is challenged by staff they are faced with a torrent of abuse and completely ignored.”

It comes after a survey found last month nearly half of teachers in the UK wanted to quit the profession after Covid.

Chellaston Academy and the trust which oversees the school, the Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School Multi-Academy Trust (QEGSMAT), say they value the safety of both their staff and pupils.

A joint statement said: “Chellaston Academy and QEGSMAT take their responsibilities for the safety of students and staff very seriously. The head teacher was first made aware of the concerns of some staff in a meeting held just prior to the Easter break. At that meeting, the head teacher listened to concerns about the behaviour of a small number of students and committed to making some changes to the school’s policies and procedures to ensure rapid and sustained improvement that will be overseen by the trust.

“Since September 2021, the school has seen an increase in the number of students being admitted in-year who were at risk of being excluded from their previous school, and support is being provided to these students, including from a number of external agencies. However, our data shows that the overwhelming majority of all students at Chellaston consistently follow the school’s code of conduct.”

An Ofsted spokesman said they could not comment on individual schools and added: “Chellaston Academy opened as a new school in June 2021. We usually inspect all new schools, including academies, within the first three years of opening. This typically happens in the school’s third year.

“We take all concerns we receive about schools very seriously. We may decide that we should inspect a school earlier than its next scheduled inspection depending on the concerns raised.”

Kieran Picken, Derby district secretary for the NEU teaching union, said he was hopeful that a solution to the problems plaguing the academy would be found.

He said: “Staff at Chellaston Academy have been engaging actively with the school’s leadership on a range of issues this academic year. NEU members have worked alongside the members in their sister unions throughout.

“It is hoped by everyone that, despite this being an exceptionally challenging year in education, through the positive relationship the staff believe they have with the school’s leadership, a way will be found to satisfactorily address these issues in the interests of staff and students.

“NEU members at Chellaston believe that the management is engaging with staff through their trades unions in good faith and envisage that issues will be resolved through dialogue and appropriate, agreed courses of action to ensure that students at Chellaston Academy continue to receive an excellent experience.”

Derbyshire Live has also asked Derby City Council for its comments on the situation.

Source: Read Full Article