School rated 'Inadequate' last year receives another damning report

A school that was slammed by Ofsted last year has received another damning report from inspectors.

The Lilford Centre, in Tyldesley, was given an 'Inadequate' rating following a visit by the school's watchdog in July 2022. However, it has now been criticised again over its quality of education and management.

The latest inspection in April 2023 found that a number of pupils at the Tyldesley site had been absent for long periods of time and were not properly checked up on.

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In the recent report, published on June 15, the privately run school was credited with correctly addressing this issue. Despite this positive step in terms of student safety and welfare, the curriculum and management were still not up to scratch, Ofsted believes.

“During this inspection (undertaken on April 19), it was evident that leaders have not demonstrated the urgency required to address the significant weaknesses identified in the previous standard inspection,” the Ofsted report said. “While leaders ensure that pupils study a broader range of subjects, the curriculum is underdeveloped and ineffective.

“Lessons are not well planned and resources are not appropriately used to aid pupils’ learning. Teachers do not have the required subject expertise.

“Leaders do not ensure that pupils benefit from effective support during lessons or from a suitably ambitious curriculum. Pupils do not achieve well.

“There is a lack of support for pupils to develop their reading knowledge.”

Inspectors added that the leaders’ lack of oversight in relation to safeguarding meant that ‘some pupils were not sufficiently protected from the potential risk of harm’. Additionally, leaders were