A TROUBLED North-East academy placed in special measures earlier this year has been told plans to transform its fortunes are “not fit for purpose”.

Ofsted inspector Brian Blake has “strongly recommended” that Glendene Arts Academy, in Easington Colliery, County Durham, does not appoint newly-qualified teachers.

The report follows a series of problems that have beset the academy, which is attended by children from the age of two to 19 with learning difficulties, autism and sensory difficulties.

Earlier this year three people were arrested over an alleged six-figure fraud, as part of an ongoing investigation into claims of serious mismanagement of funds.

Then, following an inspection in June, Ofsted inspectors placed the school under special measures after noting a catalogue of worrying issues, including concerns over pupil safety and teaching at the school.

Ofsted found that not all of the school governors had undertaken Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, while serious incidents that required children to be physically restrained were not being recorded.

They also criticised attendance levels and said staff morale was low.

The latest monitoring report, following a visit in September, notes: “Overall quality of leadership and management of the academy remains inadequate with significant shortcomings in the capacity to bring about necessary improvements.

“The current acting academy leader and acting assistant academy leader do not yet show sufficient clarity, vision and strategic thinking to ensure that all the improvements needed will be expedited as a matter of urgency in order to ensure that all the pupils at the academy receive the quality of education that specially meets their needs.”

The report says, although some progress had been made in better safeguarding pupils, issues remained, including the urgent need for DBS checks on three adults working at the school.

And, while safer recruitment training is being programmed for relevant staff, there remain significant gaps.

Mr Blake said: “This plan has significant weaknesses and undervalues the contributions that should be expected from the staff and governors.”

He concludes: "The academy's action plan is not fit for purpose."

The Northern Echo was told acting academy leader Craig Platt was off sick.

However, a spokesman for the academy said: “The staff at Glendene continue to work hard to make key improvements.”