Weymouth and Portland's last 'good' secondary school has been rated 'inadequate' in a damning Ofsted report by inspectors.

Budmouth College, which was previously rated as 'outstanding' in 2010 and 2013, was deemed 'inadequate' across a range area by inspectors who visited the school last month.

The report said school leaders and governors had failed to ensure pupils received an acceptable standard of education and academic standards had declined rapidly in recent years.

Budmouth College was the last secondary school in the borough to be rated as 'good' or above after All Saints was handed a 'requires improvement' rating in February 2017.

A report published by Ofsted today found standards at All Saints had declined and it was handed an 'inadequate' rating.

Wey Valley has had a 'requires improvement' rating since its first inspection after academisation in 2012.

Atlantic Academy has yet to be inspected by Ofsted since it took over the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy (IPACA) last year. Academies are given a grace period after forming and are usually inspected in their third year.

Before the Aspirations Academy Trust took over, IPACA had also been put into special measures.

Inspectors conducted a two-day inspection of Budmouth on May 1 and May 2.

Inadequate teaching was said to be at the heart of the school’s failure to provide an 'acceptable standard of education' and teachers were too willing to accept poor-quality work.

Inspectors found academic outcomes were very poor and attendance for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and disabilities was far too high.

The report said disadvantaged pupils’ overall rate of progress in 2017 was 'exceptionally poor' and 'among the very worst in the country.'

It added overall progress for pupils taking their GCSEs was well below the government’s floor target.

Inspectors found the behaviour of pupils to be inadequate and low-level disruption was too prevalent in classrooms.

They also found safeguarding in the school to be 'ineffective'.

The sixth form was given a 'requires' improvement rating.

Leaders were said to be using extended study leave inappropriately, as a form of 'unlawful exclusion', to manage behaviour.

The report said governance was 'dysfunctional' with the current chair of the governors having ‘suspended himself’ as part of a series of ongoing disputes and relationships between the governing body and senior leadership were 'strained.'

Leadership and management were also found to be inadequate.

Inspectors said the school underwent a period of turbulence after the sudden departure of the school’s previous principal in December 2015 but governors and remaining senior leaders were not up to the task of maintaining academic standards in the ensuing years.

A new principal, Richard Jacobs was appointed to the school in April but inspectors said he had not had time to have a 'significant impact.'

The report added Mr Jacobs had a 'very clear understanding of the school’s current position.'

"He is under no illusion about the scale of the task the school faces in turning round its history of decline," it said.

The college's response

Mr Jacobs has since responded to the Ofsted report, and said: “This is a watershed moment for the college. This report confirms my own evaluation of the college and allows us to now take clear and decisive action to address the failings of the past and forge ahead with an exciting new future.

"The local authority and I have worked closely together over the last few months to introduce a bold strategic plan that addresses all the issues identified in the Ofsted report. The new Budmouth College will strive to ensure that all of its students are happy and successful, today and tomorrow.

“Ofsted has advised the college to improve leadership and management. Governors need to provide greater challenge to the leadership team and middle leadership needs to be empowered to take responsibility for the quality of teaching and learning within their departments.

“New structures and procedures are already being put in place to allow governors to better hold leadership to account.

“The college is already working alongside colleagues from the Jurassic Coast Teaching Alliance to provide greater support to the middle leadership team and enable them to become champions of effective teaching and learning within their departments.

“Ofsted have also advised the college to improve teaching and learning. The college has prepared an innovative ‘masterclass’ training programme for its teachers which will provide one to one coaching support as they develop their mastery of the most effective teaching strategies.

“The masterclass will help teachers to provide a more challenging but more supportive learning experience for their students. A new key stage 3 curriculum is in development which will help students develop the habits of lifelong successful learners.”

Mr Jacobs also praised the Board of Governors for the support they have lent him since his appointment.

He added: “Thanks to the support of our governors, we had already laid the foundations of the changes required to address all the issues raised by the report. The education and wellbeing of our students are of paramount importance to us. Everyone at Budmouth College is dedicated to rolling out those changes rapidly and without any disruption to our students’ education.”

The college will be unveiling its planned response to the Ofsted report in a special meeting for parents on Tuesday, June 19.

To see our story about All Saints' Ofsted report CLICK HERE