PUPILS have been badly let down by unacceptable delays and disputes over the leadership and status of Haydon Bridge High School.

That’s the verdict of Ofsted inspectors in a newly-published report, following a monitoring visit on March 23.

Despite acknowledging that rapid improvements had been made in recent months, inspectors concluded that the school, which was judged inadequate back in February 2015, was still not on track for the removal of special measures.

Inspectors criticised the roles of the various organisations with an interest in the high school, for its failings.

They said Northumberland County Council, the school’s former governing body – which was replaced with a new interim executive board (IEB) in February – and the multi-academy trust Bright Tribe had not worked effectively together to secure a strong leadership.

Bright Tribe is expected to be confirmed as the school’s main sponsor this summer, but the proposed academy conversion of Haydon Bridge High has been one of the most protracted on record.

The report said: “Unacceptable delays and disputes over the leadership and status of the school over the past two-and-a-half years have resulted in pupils being badly let down.

“Since the previous full inspection in December 2014, the school has only recently begun to make progress and therefore is not on track for the removal of special measures.”

Inspectors praised the current IEB and the new senior management team, headed by principal Darren Glover, which was appointed in April.

The report added: “Current leaders are making rapid improvements.

“These improvements, although at an early stage, are injecting a much-needed sense of urgency and a clear focus on improving the quality of teaching.

“Leaders recognise that many of their actions have not had time to have a significant and substantial impact on improving outcomes for pupils.

“The school still has many weighty issues which have not been tackled at an early enough stage.”

The report said that teaching had improved.

However there were inconsistencies in the way that teaching was being monitored.

The report added that attendance figures had improved at the school, but while pupil behaviour was generally regarded as good, there had been reports of unpleasant language.

Inspectors said issues regarding safeguarding procedures, flagged up as requiring immediate attention in 2015, had now been addressed.

The report acknowledged that despite delays over the school’s academy conversion, the new IEB had been supported by Bright Tribe.