Kent’s largest secondary school, which has seen protests and a pupil stabbed with scissors this year has risen from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’ after an Ofsted visit.

Inspectors listed Homewood School in Tenterden as ‘good’ across all five categories and said there had been a “culture reset” – but noted a “very negative narrative” about the facility from a minority.

The rating comes just under four months after the establishment, which has 2,063 pupils, urged pupils not to stage protests inspired by social media platform TikTok, and disrupt lessons.

Police were called to the grounds of the school at the end of February after a rally was believed to have been sparked by various issues – including toilets being closed during lessons, female teachers allegedly going into male changing rooms, and the length of skirts.

A second demonstration was then reportedly planned for a few days later on TikTok, prompting school leaders to ask parents to stop their children from taking part.

In January, a pupil required hospital treatment after she was stabbed in the leg with a pair of scissors by a fellow student.

Inspectors said the introduction of an “ambitious curriculum” was behind the school’s upgrade, but did note that “too many” pupils were frequently recorded as absent.

The report, published yesterday, observed a “very negative narrative about the school and about pupils’ behaviour from a minority of pupils and from some parents and carers”, who filled in Ofsted’s Parent View survey.

However, “pupils are very positive about their school when they speak about their own experiences. They are frustrated by a minority of pupils who challenge the high expectations set by leaders.

“This group currently takes up a disproportionate amount of teachers’ time by chatting and being disrespectful,” the report added.

The school’s leadership was also credited for a “culture reset… through which staff have raised expectations of work, behaviour and attitudes.”

“Pupils’ behaviour overall is good and they are focused and thoughtful in lessons. Individually, pupils are keen to share how staff help them with their learning or with things that trouble them,” it added.

“The legacy of the impact of a small minority of pupils who are resisting the changes contributes to an initially negative response when pupils are asked about their experiences, but is not representative of the school now.”

Teachers were praised for presenting information clearly and enthusing students about their learning.

The report added that teachers are quick to identify how best to support pupils with special educational needs.

The quality of education was the only category in the 2019 report that was listed as “requires improvement”, and has now been graded as ‘good’.

Principal Jeremy Single said the Ofsted report recognised the school’s hard work.

He said: “We are delighted with our latest Ofsted report and really pleased that the comments recognise the hard work and progress we have made over the last few years.

“I would like to thank all of the students, parents, staff and governors for their continued support and dedication to the school.

“As acknowledged in the report, we have ‘raised expectations of work, behaviour and attitudes’ and have ‘designed an ambitious new curriculum’. We have also worked hard to create an environment where all ‘students feel known and valued’.

“This is a fantastic accolade for the school community.”