A School in Bury St Edmunds has been told that it needs to improve its safeguarding following a follow up inspection.

County Upper School was found to be inadequate back in 2019 due to its poor safeguarding of pupils.

In a letter to parents, last night headteacher Nick Froy said that following a follow-up inspection safeguarding was again judged not to be effective. Mr. Froy said “We know from the amazing support the school receives that many of you will feel the same frustration and disappointment that the staff, governors, and the Trust when reading about this particular aspect of the school.

“However, as staff, governors and trust, we accept the findings and the need to address the issues raised immediately.

“Since the inspection, we have established even closer links with the local authority and other external agencies. We also acknowledge that we need to communicate more about the measures that are in place so that all our students are more knowledgeable about safeguarding and what to do to keep themselves safe. Likewise, we need to make sure all our staff are equally well-informed and not just those directly involved in safeguarding roles”.

The Ofsted report said, whilst both times finding that the education students were provided was effective, – including with remote learning during the lock, the safeguarding is not effective.

The report went on to say “Leaders have not established a culture in which safeguarding is embedded in the day-to-day work of the school. Not all leaders fully understand and use safeguarding systems. Partnership working with the local authority is overly reliant on the involvement of trust leaders and the skills of a small number of school staff”.

Pupils also told inspectors that they do not believe the school will use appropriate protective measures to minimise their risk of contracting COVID-19.

The full report will be published on the Ofsted website.