Ofsted has given the college on the centre of the “cat pupil” allegations a clear invoice of well being, with inspectors praising its “tradition of kindness” in addition to its dealing with of relationship and intercourse training.
Ofsted inspected Rye School in East Sussex after a grievance by Kemi Badenoch, the minister for girls and equalities. There had been media protection of a video of pupils arguing with a trainer over gender and id, with one pupil showing to say {that a} pupil recognized as a cat.
The brand new report from the training watchdog – after its snap inspection final month – has exonerated the college, saying: “The issues regarding the instructing of [relationship, health and sex education] that led to this inspection don’t mirror pupils’ regular experiences in school.”
Though the report doesn’t immediately tackle the argument between the trainer and pupils, or the query of whether or not any pupils determine as animals, it praises the standard of workers coaching and instructing of relationship and intercourse training “in a delicate and neutral manner”.
Ofsted’s lead inspector, Matthew Haynes, mentioned within the report: “Pupils are taught how you can debate contentious topics. Most pupils study to take action respectfully and maturely.
“For instance, pupils are clear that there are contested views about gender, sexuality and whether or not these are assigned at delivery. One pupil summed up the views of many when he mentioned, ‘We’re taught to suppose for ourselves, but in addition to respect everyone’s standpoint.’”
The report additionally discovered the vast majority of mother and father have been “impressed” with how the college handles advanced points. “Reflecting the views of many different mother and father, one commented, ‘Rye School is a good faculty. My little one could be very comfortable, feels secure and is supported by academics,’” the report notes.
A spokesperson for Rye School mentioned: “We welcomed Ofsted’s go to as we have been assured in what they might discover and within the conclusions they might attain.
“We’re happy that the letter clearly states that the occasion that led to the inspection ‘[does] not mirror pupils’ regular expertise in school’. We stay dedicated to providing our group an inclusive training, consistent with finest observe that prepares our younger individuals for the world wherein we reside.”
The controversy started when a pupil secretly recorded the dialogue involving 12 months 8 pupils and posted an excerpt to TikTok. Within the transient clip, a pupil describes the thought of one other pupil figuring out as a cow or cat as “loopy” and extends her remarks to incorporate organic intercourse and gender as binary.
A trainer is heard telling the scholar that their views have been “despicable” and saying: “In case you don’t prefer it, you should go to a distinct faculty.”
The video provoked a string of outlandish media experiences, together with one which claimed faculties have been “taking kids who determine as horses out cantering and feeding strips of meat to those that think about themselves to be dinosaurs”.
Katharine Birbalsingh, a head trainer and the federal government’s former social mobility tsar, mentioned she knew of a non-public faculty in England the place “a bunch of ladies determine as cats”.
Rye School has mentioned no little one on the faculty “identifies as a cat or some other animal”, however apologised to folks for the dealing with of the unique dialogue.
Geoff Barton, the final secretary of the Affiliation of College and School Leaders, mentioned: “There was an enormous quantity of political and media noise across the incident which led to this inspection and which we will now see very clearly from the findings of this report was blown out of all proportion.
“Essentially the most ridiculous side of that media and political noise was the suggestion that kids have been figuring out as animals in faculties on a widespread foundation – one thing we’ve by no means heard of and by no means had reported to us by any faculty or faculty chief.
“We’d urge politicians specifically to ascertain the details earlier than leaping on tales within the media and keep in mind that there are actual individuals – college students, workers, and fogeys – who’re deeply affected by out of the blue discovering themselves within the eye of a manufactured storm.”
