Ofsted Warns Hartlepool School Still Has “Significant Work to Do” Despite Signs of Progress..
- teessidetoday
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
The report comes following an inspection of the schools progress following a previous inspection downgrading the school as "Requiring Improvement"...
20th October 2025
A Hartlepool School which had its Ofsted rating downgraded to "Requiring Improvement" has been told "significant progress needs to be taken", after inspectors were less than impressed with its performance.
In the report published by the regulators, St Hild’s Church of England School has made progress in improving standards, but Ofsted inspectors have warned the secondary school continues to face serious challenges around pupil behaviour and attendance — particularly among disadvantaged students.
The findings, published following a monitoring inspection carried out on the 16 September 2025, revealed that whilst the school had 'stabilised' after a period of leadership turbulence, persistent disruption and high absence rates remain major barriers to improvement.
The inspection, led by Inspector Ian Rawstorne, stopped short of issuing a new grade, but made clear that “some aspects of the school needed further improvement.”
Concerns over Leadership Turnover and Slow Recovery
Since St Hild’s last full inspection, the school has seen a series of leadership changes, including what's reported to have been three different chairs of the governing body, with Paul Martin, who only became headteacher in September 2025, now the school’s third Headteacher in just over a year.
Ofsted noted that whilst new senior appointments and external support from the NEAT Academy Trust had injected stability and expertise, “the trust has had to act with appropriate urgency” to address the schools problems, many of which have lingered for years.
Behaviour Problems Remain Entrenched
The report highlights a “significant minority of pupils whose behaviour is persistently disruptive,” despite the introduction of new policies on rewards and sanctions.
Although exclusion and suspension rates have begun to decline, they remain “significantly high” compared to national averages. Inspectors warned that the school must implement its behaviour policies with “greater rigour and consistency” if it wants to bring order to classrooms.
Attendance Still a Major Concern
Attendance at St Hild’s has reportedly been a long-standing issue, with Ofsted saying improvement remains too slow. Whilst the report outlines that persistent absence is “declining,” it reportedly remains high among disadvantaged pupils, raising questions about how effectively the school is tackling inequality and engaging vulnerable learners.
Improving Teaching but Still Behind National Levels
On a more positive note, inspectors found that teaching quality had improved. Subject leaders have undergone intensive professional development, and teachers are following a new “research-based pedagogical model.” However, Ofsted made clear that St Hild’s is still not reaching national levels of attainment and progress, and that lessons must be better adapted to deepen pupils’ learning.
The school is now participating in the Department for Education’s Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) programme, designed to help struggling schools raise outcomes. Inspectors said this partnership, alongside support from NEAT Academy Trust and the Diocese of Durham, has helped strengthen leadership capacity.
Despite these efforts, St Hild’s remains in a fragile position. The report concludes that while the school is moving in the right direction, the pace of improvement must accelerate.
Parents and residents in West View will be familiar with St Hild’s ongoing struggle to recover from years of inconsistent leadership and low outcomes.
While the latest inspection offers cautious optimism, Ofsted’s verdict suggests that without sustained focus and stronger discipline, the school could easily slip backwards.
