Montpelier High School not doing enough to address 'serious weaknesses'

A school once considered one of the best in Bristol is still not doing enough to address "serious weaknesses".

Montpelier High School remains "inadequate" despite a change of leadership and making improvements, including tackling bullying.

Ofsted inspectors made their second monitoring visit since the damning report in June 2022.

The school's headteacher said she was confident of a better overall rating following the next full inspection.

Monitoring visits are different to graded visits and are intended instead to check progress on addressing weaknesses.

In 2022, the watchdog found that "for a significant proportion" of pupils, the school on Cheltenham Road, did "not feel like a safe place" because of bullying, while the quality of education, sixth-form and personal development of students also required improvement.

Following the latest visit on 20 September, an inspector found many pupils still felt unprepared for life beyond their studies, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

She also judged that some pupils did not think they were given sufficient guidance or information about careers and further education.

In a letter to the headteacher, published on 13 November, Ofsted inspector Susan Aykin said while leaders have made progress to improve the school, "more work is necessary for the school to be no longer judged as having serious weaknesses".

She noted that a new headteacher has been appointed, as well as four associate headteachers being included in the senior leadership team. The pastoral team has also been expanded.

"The school has taken action to address the areas of weakness identified at the previous Inspection," Ms Aykin said.

The inspector added that "robust safeguarding procedures" were in place to protect pupils' physical and emotional wellbeing.

"The school is vigilant about the risks that pupils may face," she added.

"Through regular scrutiny of safeguarding concerns, the school ensures that all information pertaining to vulnerable pupils is recorded and shared effectively."

Ms Aykin said students of all year groups reported "significant improvements" in the relationships between classmates and between pupils and staff and that pupils have "increased confidence" that bullying issues are resolved effectively.

"However, despite the school having revised the personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum, many pupils do not yet feel that they are well prepared for the world beyond school," she added.

Headteacher Vanetta Spence, who took over the role in June, said: "The finding that we have made progress to improve the school was the best outcome we could receive from a monitoring inspection."

The girls' school, which is run by the Venturers' Trust, a multi-academy trust sponsored by the Society of Merchant Venturers and the University of Bristol, was long regarded as a top education provider and was one of the most oversubscribed in the city following an "outstanding" Ofsted report in 2010.

It was not then inspected again for 12 years.

The "outstanding" rating followed the switch from a fee-paying school to a state-funded academy in 2008.

The school changed its name from Colston's Girls' School in November 2020 following the toppling of the Edward Colston Statue.

Ms Spence said: "We are pleased that Susan Aykin... recognised the improvements that the school has made, commenting on our robust safeguarding procedures, strong relationships and a clear vision for success that prioritises welfare and education.

"We are continuing to work hard to make our school the best it can be and we are confident that when Ofsted returns to carry out a full inspection at some time in the next year we will be able to earn a positive judgement."

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