As I predicted in my blog on 30 November, Ampleforth College is *not* going to appeal the Enforcement Notice issued by DfE. At least, not for now. https://twitter.com/JonathanWest_/status/1333552139692552195

The school wrote to parents on 4 December saying that "the right route is to engage proactively with DfE" so that they "understand their concerns". They "propose to submit an action plan to address any concerns"

This is a tacit acceptance that the Ofsted report that has triggered the DfE action is justified (in essence if not in every detail) and that safeguarding at the school remains inadequate despite previous assurances made to parents.

Ampleforth has somewhat belatedly realised how precarious its position is. Parents have been told "We do not propose to go to war in the media with the DfE. This would not help us to work collaboratively with them."

However, this realisation has come a bit late, because there have already been three major pieces in the media, in The Critic, the Telegraph and the Spectator, essentially accusing DfE of religious persecution.

And Ampleforth, despite saying they aren't going to war with DfE are still encouraging parents to post on social media, tagging Gavin Williamson, their local MP and the DfE. Can't see that being well received.

They are also encouraging parents to email Gavin Williamson (helpfully providing his DfE email address for the purpose) and have asked parents to write to their MP, saying that MP letters are likely to be forwarded to DfE.

It seems to me that old habits are dying hard at Ampleforth, and they really can't quite shake the notion that this is a problem that can be solved with a PR campaign, or shake the idea that Ampleforth has the right to tell DfE what to do, not the other way round.

Ampleforth are saying that they "don’t know why Ofsted came, 16 teaching days after the second successful ISI inspection in August 2020". That's a bit disingenuous. The DfE notice refers to "an emergency inspection carried out by Ofsted between 24-25 September 2020".

It's that phrase "emergency inspection" that is the clue. This means the inspection was intelligence-led. DfE was tipped off about something at the school that had not been disclosed to ISI at their previous inspection. They sent in Ofsted instead to check.

And Ofsted duly found something, bad enough to justify the DfE action. We do in fact now know what, as the Ofsted report has today been published on the school website. https://www.ampleforth.org.uk/college/sites/default/files/downloads/ofsted_inspection_september_2020.pdf

The publication of the Ofsted report means that the complaints process has now run its course, and the report is still showing serious safeguarding failures.

Most damningly, it shows the new headteacher is not in control of his staff.

"However, other leaders do not always share essential information so that [the headteacher] has full strategic oversight of potential risks at the school and how those risks are being mitigated. ...

"… When this occurs, information is not shared or used effectively between leaders to inform vital and urgent decisions."

Also, the school leadership are deluding themselves as to their progress. "Leaders and governors feel that they have established a robust governance mechanism that takes all appropriate and reasonable action to safeguard pupils. This is not borne out by inspection evidence."

The 4 December letter to parents quotes "independent customer insight research conducted this October by Mungo Dunnett Associates" There are two problems with this.

First, Mungo Dunnett Associates has no known expertise in safeguarding, and so is not competent to speak on the topic. For that matter neither are the parents, otherwise they would have been raising what we now know to be justified concerns about the school.

Second, pushing this line (I have seen the Mungo Dunnett quote repeated verbatim in tweets by parents) is essentially claiming that Ofsted and DfE have got it wrong. Now, what exactly was the school saying about not going to war with DfE?

The letter offers a response to the question "Can the School survive with this enforcement action in place?" saying "We are working hard to get the restriction removed as soon as possible." The (unstated) short answer therefore is "No".

Ampleforth has somewhat contradictory advice to parents about public engagement. They are "not encouraging parents to speak to the press" although they must realise that any social media comment (which they are encouraging) can be taken up by journalists.

They are also asking parents "not to be drawn into criticisms of regulators or other commentators". I wonder who they could possibly be referring to?

Ampleforth has just published a response to the Ofsted report on its website. You can see it here https://www.ampleforth.org.uk/college/news/response-ofsted-inspection-report