ONE of Bradford's biggest secondary schools has been branded "inadequate" after poor performance by pupils in last year's exam results.

The Ofsted report into Tong High School was released yesterday, and in response head Stephen Curran admitted last year's GCSE maths and English results were "not good enough."

He has assured parents of the school's 1,600 pupils that staff will do everything they can to improve performance at the school.

Out of five categories, the school was judged inadequate in one, achievement of pupils, and requiring improvement in the other four, leadership, behaviour, teaching and sixth form provision.

The report said: "The standards reached by students for a number of years have been low and have declined since the previous inspection. Last year, students at the end of Year 11 failed to reach the minimum standards expected by the government.

"While these students entered the school with standards in English and mathematics that were below the national average, they left with standards even further below at the end of Year 11.

MORE EDUCATION HEADLINES

"Only 31 per cent of students secured five A* to C grades at GCSE level, including English and mathematics, compared to the national figure of 56 per cent."

It said "low level disturbance" was harming the progress of some pupils.

However, despite the criticisms, the report does say progress in maths and English was "improving significantly."

Inspectors also say the governing body is improving after a recent reorganisation. It says: "A robust focus on the quality of teaching has resulted in staffing changes. Some staff have lost the right to a rise in salary due to their underperformance."

Mr Curran said: “In a time where standards are rightly being raised nationally, the report highlights what the school already accepts, that the GCSE Maths and English results last year were not good enough.

“The report outlines our areas for development, but it also acknowledges the tough decisions the school had to make on our journey to improve the quality of provision. It also positively describes the progress the school has already made and highlights strengths and successes and the plans and strategies that we have put in place to address weaknesses.

“Most importantly, the Ofsted inspection team strongly recognises that ‘staff and governors care passionately for the welfare of students in their school’ and that together we are confident that Tong has the capacity to continue to secure rapid improvement.

“I can assure you that we are doing everything we can to ensure the best outcomes for our students.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's executive member for education, skills and culture, said: “Clearly it is imperative that Tong High School speeds up its improvement. Last year's unsatisfactory exam results are key to this latest judgement. Ofsted found the school has made a number of positive changes which are raising achievement, however its results still need to improve more rapidly.

“We are working extremely closely with the school, which is receiving strong support from another outstanding local school."

ANOTHER BLOW FOR BRADFORD'S SCHOOLS

THE Ofsted report into Tong High School is one of a number of recent disappointing judgements for Bradford schools.

In 2015 alone the inspection body has given inadequate judgements to Tong High School, Oasis Academy Lister Park and Hanson Academy in Swain House. The latter two were placed in special measures after the report.

It brings the total number of schools in the district that were ranked inadequate at their last inspection to five out of 34 schools.

Belle Vue Boys School in Heaton got its inadequate rating last year, was put into special measures and will be taken over by the Beckfoot Academy chain in September. Carlton Bolling College in Undercliffe was also rated inadequate and put in special measures after an inspection last year.

Return visits by Ofsted to those two schools have highlighted improvements made since the critical inspections.

Thirteen secondary schools in the district were judged as requiring improvement at their last inspection.

However there have also been recent successes for some district schools. Last spring inner city school Dixons Trinity Academy was the first secondary free school in the country to be judged outstanding. And Beckfoot School in Bingley was judged outstanding following a visit last summer.