SOUTHCHURCH High’s headteacher has fiercely defended the school’s achievements, despite a damning Ofsted report.

Stuart Reynolds claims the negative impact of the Covid pandemic is behind the disappointing verdict delivered by inspectors.

Mr Reynolds said: “Before Covid struck, Southchurch was the most improved school in Southend, with GCSE scores above national expectations and the highest number of Year 7 applications amongst the nonselective schools.

“On the day inspectors visited, in early March, the school was just beginning to emerge from Covid arrangements to ensure the safety of students and staff.

“Like many schools at this time, staff absence was still above the norm, with 18 per cent of teachers off ill.

“All this meant that the school was not able to show itself at its best.”

The school will now face a followup visit from Ofsted.

Read more >> Why inspectors rated Southchurch High School inadequate

Mr Reynolds added: “The school has to accept the snapshot which the inspectors took over the two days they were on site, but know that this is not a true reflection of Southchurch’s strengths.

“In the three months since the inspection the school has addressed all of the concerns raised in the report, re-instating all of the pre-Covid arrangements which made the school so popular with parents.”

Southchurch High School was previously rated “requires improvement” by Ofsted in 2016 when it was called the Futures Community College.

Roger Leighton, chief exec of the Partnership Learning Trust which runs the school, said: “We know the recent Ofsted inspection does not accurately reflect Southchurch’s strengths.

“We have already worked with the school to ensure that any concerns have been quickly addressed and when Ofsted return we are confident that inspectors will give the school a resounding ‘thumbs up’.”

Laurie Burton, Southend councillor responsible for children and learning, said: “We understand the trust leadership team has put support in place and are undertaking actions to address the issues. We will continue to support the school and the trust to make the improvements.”