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Stanbridge Earls School: Ofsted admits inspection failings Stanbridge Earls School: Ofsted admits inspection failings
(35 minutes later)
Schools watchdog Ofsted has admitted failings in its inspections at a Hampshire school criticised for its handling of a pupil's rape claim.Schools watchdog Ofsted has admitted failings in its inspections at a Hampshire school criticised for its handling of a pupil's rape claim.
An education tribunal raised "grave concerns" about safeguarding at Stanbridge Earls in January. A tribunal in January raised "grave concerns" about safeguarding at Stanbridge Earls.
Three Ofsted inspections failed to get "underneath concerns", an internal review has concluded. Last year, Ofsted said the school was "outstanding". The inspections failed to get "underneath concerns", a review into what went wrong has concluded.
The chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has apologised and stressed changes are being implemented. The chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has apologised.
The tribunal found the school, which caters for pupils aged 10 to 19 with special educational needs and was rated as "outstanding" last year, had failed to protect the "vulnerable" pupil. Disciplinary action has been taken against a small number of staff, including dismissal.
It also found the school discriminated against the girl, who claimed she had been raped twice by other students, by excluding her following the allegation. The tribunal found the school, which caters for pupils aged 10 to 19 with special educational needs, had failed to protect the "vulnerable" pupil.
Her parents started legal action on discrimination grounds after she was excluded following her claim she had been raped twice by other students.
The tribunal heard the school believed she had consented and excluded her for breaking rules by having sex on school grounds.
'Acknowledge mistakes''Acknowledge mistakes'
Three subsequent Ofsted inspections this year revealed serious concerns about safeguarding, with the government demanding improvements. Three Ofsted inspections since the tribunal's damning findings revealed serious concerns about safeguarding at the school.
Last month it was announced the school would close, with a Surrey-based charity taking it over and running a new school on the Romsey site. The school is set to close, with a Surrey-based charity taking it over and running a new school on the Romsey site.
Speaking in response to the review into Ofsted's actions, Sir Michael said: "Inspection is part of the safety net designed to protect children from harm and it is clear from our review... that our inspections should have got underneath what was happening sooner. Addressing why the initial Ofsted assessment was so wrong, Sir Michael said: "Inspection is part of the safety net designed to protect children from harm and it is clear from our review... that our inspections should have got underneath what was happening sooner.
"We offer our sincerest apologies to the parents and children who have been affected by historic events at Stanbridge Earls."We offer our sincerest apologies to the parents and children who have been affected by historic events at Stanbridge Earls.
"We cannot turn back the clock on what has happened... but our actions show that when we get it wrong, we acknowledge our mistakes, take decisive action, and ensure that we use the learning to improve.""We cannot turn back the clock on what has happened... but our actions show that when we get it wrong, we acknowledge our mistakes, take decisive action, and ensure that we use the learning to improve."
The inquiry did not find "widespread failings" but did reveal "weaknesses" in Ofsted's monitoring of residential special schools.The inquiry did not find "widespread failings" but did reveal "weaknesses" in Ofsted's monitoring of residential special schools.
The watchdog said from 1 January all inspection work would be managed in eight regions overseen by regional directors.The watchdog said from 1 January all inspection work would be managed in eight regions overseen by regional directors.
It has also improved existing technology to ensure inspectors have better access to the full history of concerns at a school.It has also improved existing technology to ensure inspectors have better access to the full history of concerns at a school.
Ofsted said disciplinary action had been taken against a small number of staff, including dismissal.
The head teacher at Stanbridge Earls at the time of the allegation, Peter Trythall, stepped down in April after initially resisting calls to quit.The head teacher at Stanbridge Earls at the time of the allegation, Peter Trythall, stepped down in April after initially resisting calls to quit.
The tribunal said his conduct "borders on contempt for statutory duties".The tribunal said his conduct "borders on contempt for statutory duties".
Hampshire Constabulary said it thoroughly investigated the rape allegations before passing a file to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which decided not to prosecute. Hampshire Constabulary said it thoroughly investigated the rape allegation before passing a file to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which decided not to prosecute.
The force has since started a "comprehensive review" into its own handling of the case and is also trying to progress a separate investigation into sexual abuse claims by another girl.