Students at Marathon Science School in South London had a ‘very poor’ understanding of other faiths and cultures, the schools watchdog said.
The Lewisham school, which teaches high school aged boys, was downgraded from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate’ following the inspection in May.
Inspectors said children also had very little understanding of England’s main political parties and described their knowledge of key British values as ‘limited’.
An Ofsted report published on June 29 reads: “The personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum is especially poor.
“As a result, pupils’ knowledge and understanding of fundamental British values is limited. They are unprepared for life in modern Britain.
“Pupils have a very poor knowledge of even basic information including about other faiths and cultures, the main political parties in England, and the different characteristics that people have.”
Inspectors also criticised the school’s teaching of sex education, noting that required content wasn’t being taught.
They branded careers advice at the school ‘weak’, describing it as neither suitable nor impartial.
Ofsted added that too many pupils at the school achieved poor GCSE grades. Government statistics show just 17 per cent of pupils achieved grade 5 (equivalent to the old grade C) or above at GCSE in English and maths.
Nationally, the figure is 50 per cent of students and 47 per cent in the borough of Lewisham.
The report added that teachers lacked both the skills and knowledge to identify and support kids with special educational needs and disabilities [SEND].
At the time of the inspection the school’s website guidance about admitting kids with SEND was “inappropriate,” Ofsted said and was changed during the three day visit.
The report continues: “Leaders and proprietors demonstrate a lack of capacity to improve the school.
“They do not know the independent school standards. There are no systems in place to check the work of leaders, or the school’s compliance with the independent school standards. Many independent school standards are not met.
“Pupils do not receive education in all the required areas of learning. Leaders do not provide professional training to help staff to plan and deliver an effective curriculum.
“The curriculum does not meet all pupils’ needs. All these weaknesses have a negative impact on pupils’ overall academic outcomes.”
Despite this, inspectors praised pupils’ behaviour, describing them as ‘polite and respectful’.
They praised students for their positive attitudes, hard work and sensible conduct.
Behaviour was the only quality for which the school kept a ‘good’ rating. Marathon Science School was rated ‘inadequate’ for its quality of education, leadership and personal development of pupils.
The school on Evelyn Street was teaching 59 boys at the time of the inspection. The report said many pupils were of a Turkish background and spoke English as a second language.
Marathon Science School was contacted for comment on the Ofsted report but had failed to reply at the time of publication.
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