Athena school was marked down by inspectors amid concerns over impact on SEND pupils of time spent in “reflection”, notes reveal

Inspectors’ notes, released by Ofsted under FOI, show criticism of children losing “nearly half a term” out of lessons during first two terms of last year, in either reflection or suspension, often for “very minor infringements,” with gaps in their learning resulting.

A school within a controversial academy trust was marked down by Ofsted after inspectors found that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities were spending up to 100 hours in “reflection” over a two-term period and that their education was suffering as a result.

In what may be a rare instance of evidence emerging of inspectors criticising the impact of the use of removal from lessons, also sometimes termed isolation, Ofsted also said pupils were “often” spending time in reflection for “very minor infringements”.

The revelations come from inspectors’ detailed notes during their visit to the school, which Education Uncovered requested under Freedom of Information because of the high-profile nature of the trust and with Ofsted having, unusually, carried out an extra day’s visit to the school.

They also document that the number of suspensions multiplied by 10 after the trust took over the school. Pre-inspection notes said there was no record of adjustments being made to behaviour policies in light of children’s special educational needs.

The academy – which did receive some positive findings from the inspectorate including over what the notes say are “engaging” lessons and improved exam results -  is within the Athena Learning Trust, which is in the process of being wound down.