A school in Erith remains in special measures as it is still rated as inadequate eight months after being initially inspected by Ofsted. 

King Henry School, in Avenue Road, was originally given the rating after a two day inspection in May 2022.

Schools are rated in four categories: outstanding, good, requires improvement, and inadequate.

At the time, it was rated inadequate for quality of education, behaviour of pupils, and leadership as pupils were frequently missing from lessons.

Following the May inspection, it was formally agreed that the Erith school will be re-brokered from Odyssey Trust for Education to Leigh Academies Trust. 

The education watchdog revisited the school on December 6 by focusing on safeguarding.

It found that it remains inadequate and requires special measures.

Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is “necessary” for the category of concern to be removed.

Despite the raiting, the visit found that safeguarding was effective at the Erith school. 

John Dixon, head teacher at King Henry School said the monitoring visit was successful and students are now being "effectively" safeguarded and fully supported.

He added: “The students, families and wider community deserve a school to be truly proud of.

“Leigh Academies Trust will deliver an inclusive education for all.”

The monitoring inspection focused on safeguarding as the school is going through significant changes.

Teachers now take registers at the start of each lesson, where leaders are then able to quickly check for any pupils who are not in their lessons.

Students were not found walking around corridors or truanting from lessons, as they are not allowed to leave lessons alone.

The report stated members of staff and pupils confirmed that incidents of truancy have now decreased.

After reviewing the security of the school site, pupils cannot leave the school site from different parts of the playground or the school field.

Through all these changes, leaders have prioritised pupils’ safety and the raising of expectations for pupils’ behaviour.

During the inspection, pupils said the staff are stricter and that expectations are higher.

It also states that teachers feel less stressed and anxious as the expectations for the management of behaviour have been made.

The report explains: “Leaders have set up systems to give them the information that they need to spot trends and patterns in relation to behaviour, including incidents of bullying, racism and sexual misconduct.

“This is enabling them to target their work more effectively. Pupils said that, if reported, bullying would be taken seriously.

“However, sometimes record keeping in relation to safeguarding and behaviour could more be robust.”

A statement released by King Henry School states whilst the school remains in the category of special measures, safeguarding is effective. 

This judgement on a key aspect of school improvement has been made possible by the support and expertise provided by Leigh Academies Trust, it added.

It also announced that its finalising in changing King Henry School’s name to Leigh Academy Bexley.

Tracey Trusler, Academies Director for Leigh Academies Trust said:  “I am delighted that the improvements made at the school were plain to see and would like to thank the Principal, senior leaders and staff for their hard work in bringing this about. 

"I am confident that the school will go from strength to strength”.

The full statement from King Henry School said: "The King Henry School community is celebrating the outcome of its first Ofsted monitoring visit which took place on 6th December 2022.

"Whilst the school remains in the category of special measures, safeguarding is effective.

"This judgement on a key aspect of school improvement has been made possible by the support and expertise provided by Leigh Academies Trust (LAT) who are working towards finalising the transfer of King Henry School (KHS) with the Department of Education on 1st April this year, when the school’s name will proudly change to Leigh Academy Bexley.

"The report highlights that the school is going through significant changes expertly led and managed by newly appointed John Dixon, the Principal of The Halley Academy, which achieved Good with Outstanding in the areas of Leadership and Management, Personal Development and Sixth Form just seven months ago.  

"Ofsted have acknowledged that leaders have prioritised pupils’ safety and the raising of expectations for pupils’ behaviour and that there are clear expectations for both pupils and staff.

"High praise was awarded in that leaders from LAT were quick to establish systems and processes to manage truancy.”

"Ofsted did not find pupils walking around corridors or widespread truanting from lessons as had been identified at the previous inspection and incidents of truancy have decreased”.

"The monitoring visit identified that the school systems to keep pupils safe are embedded”.

"The recruitment of additional senior leaders has ensured that areas of the school are well supervised”.  

"Pupils said, ‘We feel safer at school.’”  Also “pupils told inspectors that they feel things have improved”.  

"They say the staff are strict and that expectations are higher.”

“Following the many challenges that the school has faced, LAT commissioned a full external review of safeguarding at KHS during Module 2.

"The resulting report commented on strong progress by leaders to strengthen all aspects of safeguarding since LAT began supporting KHS in September.

"The report stated that, “Students were observed throughout the day as friendly and engaging; members of staff were approachable in their responses and in their interactions with children”.  

"Wasting no time at all, the school is already implementing all recommendations from the report through a detailed action plan so that systems are fully robust."