A special needs village school where behaviour is said to have “deteriorated” has received a damning Ofsted report.
Woodeaton Manor School near Oxford has been rated inadequate by the education watchdog – the worst possible score.
Bosses at the foundation special school in Woodeaton described the report as “extremely disappointing”.
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It comes after the Oxford Mail revealed that behaviour had worsened among the 84 pupils at the large manor house just off Woodeaton Lane.
An ex-governor told the paper that “more children are misbehaving” because too many pupils had joined in Year 7.
He blamed Oxfordshire County Council for not creating enough special needs school places elsewhere in the county.
It comes after “widespread failings” were identified in special needs services across Oxfordshire in September.
Woodeaton parents were informed via email about the new Ofsted report, which has not yet been made available to the public.
The email admitted the school had received the lowest possible score for both its education and residential care.
The behaviour and attitude of pupils was rated 'inadequate' by inspectors, who visited the school on November 7 and 8.
All of the school’s governors resigned in mid-November following the inspection, and were replaced by an interim governing board.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail last month, one of the resigned governors said pupil behaviour was “definitely worse than previous years”.
“Children are less attentive in class and they’re ruder to other parents and children," said the man, who asked not to be named.
"There are more children misbehaving than there used to be.”
The misbehaviour culminated on November 22, just weeks after the Ofsted inspection, when a man in his 40s was attacked at the school.
Police were called to the assault, which left the victim injured.
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The behaviour issues are also the result of staff turnover, according to a parent who spoke to the Oxford Mail.
Headteacher Simon Bishop has been absent since June, and his interim replacement Alan Buckley left the school on Friday (January 12).
Former deputy head Jenny Jura also left “abruptly just before Christmas”, one student told the Oxford Mail.
Fenella Dowler-Luke has been brought in as the new interim consultant head along with two new deputy heads, Robin Bertrand and Olu Odunsi.
Following the Ofsted report, the interim leaders say they have devised an “effective rapid improvement plan” to address the inadequate areas.
The school told parents in an email: “The interim governing board and all those involved in the school are fully committed to providing the best education for its pupils by driving rapid improvement in the areas identified by Ofsted.”
The email, seen by the Oxford Mail, said the council is working with the interim leaders at the school to “drive forward the improvement programme at pace”.
The council aims to create more than 300 new SEND school places during the next four years.
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