THE education trust responsible for a school that received a poor Ofsted report has confirmed that resignations have taken place – but insisted that the leadership at the institution will “rebuild” faith with parents.

St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham was handed a ‘Requires Improvement’ grade on April 12 after inspectors visited the secondary school and sixth form on January 26 and 27 this year.

In the report, the inspectors noted that provision for SEND pupils and the “fragmented” relationship between parents and the school were “vital” areas in which St Leonard’s needed to improve.

Read more: St Leonard's school facing fresh pressure amid 'vote of no confidence' petition

Despite finding ‘good’ elements within ‘the quality of education’, ‘behaviour and attitudes’, ‘sixth-form provision’ and ‘personal development’, a grade of ‘requires improvement’ within leadership and management sealed the overall mark for the school.

Now, more than two weeks on from the ‘below average’ Ofsted grade, the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, which oversees St Leonard’s, has spoken out about what needs to be done at the school to improve.

Nick Hurn, the CEO of the education trust, has confirmed that resignations have taken place following the Ofsted report, but it wasn’t clarified whether this was at the trust or the school.

This comes after parents of children at the school launched a petition calling for a ‘vote of no confidence’ in the leadership and education trust.

Among other things, Mr Hurn noted that communication with SEND parents and the provision for children must be improved but did praise other areas of St Leonard’s.

The Northern Echo: St Leonard's in Durham. Picture: NORTHERN ECHO.St Leonard's in Durham. Picture: NORTHERN ECHO.

He told The Northern Echo: “The petition does not ask for resignations from the Trust, nor does it call for a vote of no confidence in the Trust.

“There already had been some resignations before this petition but I doubt there will be anymore and hope that this is the case.

“The staff at St Leonard’s and the Trust are determined to address and correct the areas for development identified in the Ofsted report and hope to rebuild our relationship with our parents and their confidence in us.”

The Northern Echo: Nick Hurn, the CEO Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust. Picture: FILE.Nick Hurn, the CEO Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust. Picture: FILE.

Mr Hurn went on to say that the trust feels “disappointed” that parents are “aggrieved” by both the Ofsted and the performance of the school.

However, he has set out how the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust and St Leonard’s will improve in the future, including from senior staff members and the trust itself.

He added: “Communication with the SEND parents needs to improve, and there needs to be a greater focus on the individual needs of these children, which also needs to be reflected in the paperwork.

The Northern Echo: St Leonard's was given a 'Requires Improvement' rating during its latest Ofsted. Picture: NORTHERN ECHO.St Leonard's was given a 'Requires Improvement' rating during its latest Ofsted. Picture: NORTHERN ECHO.

“The Trust is providing support through its Director of Safeguarding and SEND, and a senior teacher at one of its other secondary schools, who has excellent SEND skills and extensive experience.

“Ofsted’s feedback to the school and Trust reflected that the support provided by the Trust has been exemplary and that it needs to be fully embedded across the school, which is a priority for the school and the Trust.

“We acknowledge that the SEND provision is not to the level we would want or expect, and this is being addressed.

The Northern Echo: The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust has spoken out about the Ofsted inspection for the first time since the rating was released. Picture: FILE.The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust has spoken out about the Ofsted inspection for the first time since the rating was released. Picture: FILE.

“There are a great many other incredibly positive aspects to the latest Ofsted report.

“Every other judgement was rated as good, which could not have happened if leadership was considered weak in all areas.

“We fully accept that the failure in SEND was a limiting factor in the Leadership judgement and fully accept that this is a critical area that must and will be improved.

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