Pupils are getting a very poor deal at this school. The curriculum is not fit for purpose. It is too narrow, lacks ambition and sets pupils up for failure in the sixth form. Teaching is uninspiring and is too driven by preparation for GCSE examinations. Pupils often behave poorly in lessons, partly because they are bored. Pupils have no choice but to try to learn in premises that are dirty and unsafe. Pupils show a complete lack of respect for the building. This is due in part to governors’ failure to provide a safe and pleasant learning environment. The safety concerns are so serious, leaders decided to temporarily close the school during the inspection. The high turnover of headteachers and lack of effective governance have resulted in a dysfunctional school. Pupils lack confidence in the school’s leadership. An example of this is the graffiti which shows pupils voting on how long the latest headteacher will remain in his post. Despite the serious concerns, many pupils speak positively about the school. They especially like the close-knit nature of the school community. They attend well and say that bullying is very rare and dealt with well when it arises.