Inspectors have provided an update on a Tynedale school’s performance after it was rated ‘inadequate’ in 2018.

OFSTED officers visited Haydon Bridge High School in October to review the current status of the school after the damning decision two years ago.

However, due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions, the report states that officers did not undertake the usual range of inspection activities and were unable to check other sources of evidence, such as visits to lessons or looking at pupils’ work.

Instead, the headteacher Darren Glover and the senior leadership team, including the senior leader responsible for safeguarding, were spoken to by OFSTED to understand the school’s current performance.

From the visit, the report concluded that attendance is slightly lower than normal for this time of year.

Inspectors heard how a "very small number of pupils" are having additional support from staff and external agencies to improve their attendance.

Pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11, have chosen one less option subject than normal to allow pupils extra time to catch up with lost or missed learning due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

However, the school said it aims to return all pupils to the full range of subjects by summer term 2021.

The report added that the school is dedicating extra time on fostering pupils’ well-being. Inspectors heard how not all pupils returned to school feeling confident and ready to learn and wanted to offer pupils more opportunities to talk and adjust.

Members of the school’s leadership team said learning was lost or missed during the school’s partial closure due to Covid-19 restrictions.

But plans are in place to allow subjects to be delivered remotely should this be needed, with a combination of online learning, direct teaching and private study tasks used where appropriate.