A SCHOOL that educates the most seriously ill children in the county has been rated inadequate after inspectors said it was not doing enough to ensure pupils were safe.

Oxfordshire Hospital School was ranked outstanding in four key areas but received inadequate ratings from Ofsted in two others – including safeguarding – leading to it failing overall.

A report released last week following an inspection last month noted that there was a high degree of inconsistency in record keeping when it came to the school’s outreach work.

This included not sharing ‘crucial information’ with other schools pupils attended.

Headteacher Angela Ransby, who started at the school in September, pledged to turn things around.

She said: “Our response to the report has been quick and decisive.

“We are fulfilling our safeguarding duties with renewed understanding and vigour and are working hard to ensure that our actions always reflect best practice.

“Improvements in training are giving our staff the tools and the confidence to scrutinise safeguarding cases more effectively.”

The inadequate report comes two months after former headteacher Gareth Lewis warned some children could be denied an education unless the school got more funding –claims which Ms Ransby rejected at the time.

The school teaches youngsters at Oxford Children’s hospital who have long term conditions.

It also teaches children at home and at Helen & Douglas House.

The inspection report praised the quality of teaching, outcomes for pupils, early years provision and 16 to 19 study.

But the school was found to be inadequate in the effectiveness of leadership and management and pupils’ personal development, behaviour and welfare categories.

Lead inspector Sarah Hubbard wrote: “The school’s work to promote pupils’ personal development and welfare is inadequate.

“This is as a result of ineffective safeguarding procedures in the outreach sector.”

Ms Hubbard praised pupils’ behaviour and how the school tracked their sense of wellbeing.

But she added governors and temporary leaders had ‘not prioritised developments effectively’ meaning that ‘some big, important decisions’ such as where to accommodate outreach work, had not been made.

Ms Ransby added: “We mustn’t lose sight of the extraordinary work of our talented and inspiring teachers and sector leads, who received the highest praise.

“I sincerely hope that our shortcomings in record management, which we are now addressing with great commitment, don’t overshadow our considerable achievements in teaching.”

Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for education Steve Harrod said: “The school has worked quickly to ensure that practice is now safe, and rapid and significant improvements have been made under the leadership of the new headteacher.”