Staff a Kent secondary school plunged into special measures are being trained in safeguarding as its leadership faces a reshuffle.

The Holmesdale School in Snodland suffered a damning Ofsted report months after exam results placed it well below the national average for Progress 8 scores.

Four years ago the under-capacity school was rated ‘good’ by inspectors but is now the only secondary in Kent and Medway currently to be in special measures, after being found to be failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education.

Amid the worrying findings in the Ofsted report, published today, was a verdict that the school’s designated safeguarding staff have been too slow to report concerns, meaning some pupils may have been put at risk.

Despite this, however, pupils and parents told inspectors they feel safe at the school in Malling Road.

Bosses also concluded that school leaders failed to routinely monitor the attendance of pupils, many of whom have been absent for "long periods of time".

Struggles to recruit strong subject specialists in English, maths and science led to a number of temporary appointments which have affected the continuity of pupils’ learning, it added.

As a result, the watchdog has prevented the school from appointing newly-qualified teachers.

The report found the vast majority of pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those who have special needs or disabilities, have not made the progress that they are capable of and that teachers' expectations of what they can achieve are too low.

Furthermore, it found sixth-form students are not offered a full range of non-qualification activities, meaning the school does not meet the requirements of the 16 to 19 programmes of study.

Head teacher Tina Bissett said: “It is obviously very disappointing for everyone involved in the school that Ofsted has judged Holmesdale to require special measures.

“We are pleased, however, that inspectors recognised the improvements that have already been made over the past year and I want to reassure parents, carers, pupils and staff that we will continue to make changes and to improve.

“The pupils were a credit to the school during the inspection and we were heartened by the inspectors’ recognition of our improving culture and ethos.

“Inspectors also recognised that our pupils feel safe while they’re in school.

“A review of the school’s safeguarding practice is being arranged and ongoing staff training in this area has already been introduced.

“Leadership at the school has been reviewed and a number of changes have been made. Plans for new appointments are now in place and we will ensure we employ strong new members of staff with the skills necessary to drive the school forward. We will also be working closely with the local authority to review governance arrangements.

“Measures have been put in place to adequately monitor pupils’ attendance and to address issues that are causing children to miss school.”

Two weeks after the inspection, Robin Smout was appointed head of sixth form and wrote a letter urging improvement in attendance, punctuality and dress code.

Last summer, the school scored well below the national average Progress 8 score, which tracks how a pupil progresses from leaving primary school to their GCSE results.

The Brook Learning Trust was brought in to improve standards but changes weren’t made in time for Ofsted’s visit in February.

Mrs Bissett added: “I would like to ask parents and carers put their trust in us, so we can move forward together, and thank them in anticipation of their continued support.”

Parents have been invited to attend a meeting after the Easter holidays.