Independent alternative education provider Progress Schools Thrapston has retained its Inadequate status following a second Ofsted inspection, Northamptonshire News has reported

The Northamptonshire school provides education to pupils with behavioural, social, emotional and mental health needs, many of whom were previously excluded from their provision. It can cater for up to 60 children aged between 11 and 16, however only 27 were on its roll when Ofsted visited in April. Annual fees range from £14,500 and £32,500.

The school was first rated Inadequate in March last year, but has since failed to make sufficient progress to improve its rating.

Ofsted said pupils “did not have meaningful opportunities to learn” and that lessons “contributed weakly to their learning”. The regulator found pupils “not able to recall their learning” and “did not develop skills as well as they could”.

Ofsted school’s learning environment is showing signs of “starting to improve” but said leaders had “not ensured that pupils’ educational needs were being met” and that individual plans had not been created for every pupil.,”

Progress Schools’ managing director Charlotte Barton said: “I do feel though that in some areas of this inspection, we were once again harshly judged by the inspector. For example, we were criticised for having poor attendance, with some pupils not attending at all.”

Barton added that she welcomed Ofsted’s feedback and that it had recognised that work is underway to make improvements.