A DAMNING report by the education watchdog is calling for improvements at one of the borough’s largest secondary schools.

The report, at Chase High School, Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff, found the quality of teaching, pupils’ outcomes and leadership were not up to standard when they visited.

The inspection is the first to be carried out since the school was turned into an academy back in 2015 when headteacher Andrew James vowed it would improve.

Lead Inspector Peter Whear found that outcomes for pupils are well below the national average across all subjects including English and Maths.

He added: “Pupils generally enter the school with levels of attainment in the basic skills of English and mathematics that are below average.

“In 2017, most Year 11 pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils, made significantly less progress than other pupils nationally. This was the case across a broad range of subjects.

“As a result, disadvantaged pupils’ attainment was also well below that of their peers.”

Inspectors also found that the “quality of teaching, learning and assessment does not secure consistently good progress for pupils”.

They also highlighted that pupils lose focus in lessons when teachers’ expectations are not high enough and pointed out that “when teachers’ planning does not engage pupils’ enthusiasm or enable them to apply new learning, they become more passive and make slower progress”.

Mr Whear added: “Leaders have an overly positive view of the quality of provision provided.

“This is because they have not implemented robust procedures to review the impact of their actions, and key aspects of their work have lacked sufficient oversight.”

Inspectors noted that pupils were proud of their school and that students were polite and courteous.

Mr James, who is still the headteacher, admitted there was still work to be done.

He said: “In many ways the inspection came at the perfect time. The school has come a long way in three years since the school converted to an academy, sponsored by Brentwood Academies Trust. We are now 60 per cent through the five-year plan we put in place to make Chase High the school it should be.

“The result of the inspection is that we now see more clearly than ever exactly what needs to be done to finish that journey successfully.

“We accept that we still have work to do to ensure our children get the best possible education with us and we are committed to continuing our work on consistency of provision across the school.

“We go into this next phase of our work together determined to continue to improve standards so that all our learners get the education they deserve.”