A SCHOOL which came under scrutiny when a former pupil’s parent widely circulated a 45-page dossier on what he claimed was proof of children with special educational needs being failed has been backed by Barnsley Council.
A group Barnsley SEND was created to allow parents who feel their children with special educational needs aren’t being treated correctly to communicate.
Its founder, James Swallow-Gaunt whose autistic son Ethan used to attend Penistone Grammar School before he was removed and home-schooled during his year ten studies in 2022 authored the report.
In its pages, he alleges that ‘institutional neglect’ of children’s requirements and needs have been found at the Huddersfield Road setting something which both the school’s leaders and the council have refuted this week.
The report claimed: “The investigation into emotional abuse, school-based trauma and institutional neglect within educational settings has revealed several critical issues that require immediate attention.
“Safeguarding failures, including the neglect of anti-bullying policies and inadequate support for pupils with special needs, were identified as significant issues.
“The investigation also highlighted harmful disciplinary measures and the prioritisation of attendance over meaningful support for vulnerable pupils.
“By recognising and addressing these recurring patterns and emerging trends, schools can create a safer and more supportive environment for vulnerable children, promoting their academic and personal development.”
It’s the latest wrangle between the group and the council, which last saw the local authority issue a cease and desist letter to Mr Swallow-Gaunt due to the content of some posts.
However, Penistone Grammar School’s leaders have vehemently refuted any form of wrongdoing and said they are ‘deeply committed’ to ensuring its pupils flourish both whilst there and when they leave.
They cited their success with their ground-breaking HeartSpace provision which is a tailored learning environment designed for youngsters who need additional support in a smaller, more structured setting.
Ofsted, the education watchdog, stated that teachers are ‘provided with detailed information about pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and a number of pupils with SEND receive their lessons in the ‘HeartSpace’ provision, who are well-supported by skilled teachers who know them well’.
Pupils benefit substantially by accessing this provision, inspectors added.
“We are aware of recent social media commentary aimed at the school and its staff,” a statement issued to the Chronicle said.
“While these posts come from a very small group including individuals who are not current parents or carers we urge any current families who have concerns to contact us directly.
“We have clear policies and processes in place, and we are always ready to listen and respond appropriately.
“It’s important to clarify that the claims circulating online have not been the subject of any formal investigation by an appropriate regulatory body.
“A total of 17 per cent of our pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) out of 1,950 pupils.
“We live by five core values, with the central and most important of these being ‘be kind’ our 250-strong staff team arrive each day driven by a shared commitment: to support and teach our young people to the very best of our ability.
“We are incredibly proud of our pupils and their many achievements.
“In our most recent in-school surveys, 98 per cent of respondents said they would recommend our school a statistic we take enormous pride in.
“Additionally, the overwhelming majority who participated in our latest survey said they feel safe and happy in school.
“While we recognise that not every pupil will always feel this way, we work tirelessly to ensure that all our learners feel supported and cared for.
“We are proud to be an outward-looking school that works in close collaboration with a number of exceptional education providers across the region.
“These partnerships are invaluable in helping us maintain a reflective and progressive culture and we welcome constructive feedback.
“But we remain confident that we get it right for the vast majority of our school community, the vast majority of the time.
“Our post-16 progression data shows strong outcomes, with many of our pupils with SEND successfully moving on to further education, employment or training.
“These outcomes reflect the dedication of our skilled staff and the inclusive ethos that underpins our approach to teaching and support.
“We remain deeply committed to delivering a high-quality, inclusive education for every learner and to fostering a kind, respectful and aspirational school culture for all.”
Coun Trevor Cave, cabinet spokesperson for children’s services, said all concerns about school-related matters are taken seriously by the council.
“We have formal processes in place to investigate complaints raised.
“We have received a copy of this report which has been written by a concerned parent.
“It is our duty to highlight that the report is not written by a formal independent statutory organisation which has the experience or authority to undertake such an investigation.
“However, the council is of course reviewing the report and if there are any outstanding matters arising from it that need to be addressed, the necessary action, if appropriate, will be taken.”
BARNSLEY Council’s ruling cabinet members are set to discuss additional capacity in the town’s SEND services at a cost of almost £600,000.
To address the growing demand in Barnsley, which mirrors national trends, the proposal recommends increasing the use of Dedicated Schools’ Grant.
The annual cost for the additional capacity is estimated at £599,870 and the investment would support the SEND Improvement and Sensory Support teams, ensuring that children with hearing and visual impairments receive the specialised support they need.
Coun Trevor Cave, cabinet spokesperson for children’s services, said: “We are dedicated to ensuring every child in Barnsley receives the support they need to thrive.
“This investment in our services will enhance education and inclusion for children with hearing and visual impairments, as well as those with special educational needs and disabilities.
“By increasing our services’ capacity, we aim to provide specialised support that will make a meaningful difference.”
