New PRU approved by Walsall Council 18 months after damning Ofsted report
“Long suffering” children at a troubled Walsall pupil referral unit will be given a new home after council bosses approved the building of a purpose-built base.
Walsall Council’s cabinet gave the green light to a plan to shut the current inadequate New Leaf Centre in Rushall and build a new purpose-built unit at the former Educational Support Centre at Field Road, Bloxwich, and the adjacent former Pinfold Centre in Field Close.
The condition of the current pupil referral unit building next to Rushall Primary School was branded “unfit for purpose” by Ofsted inspectors in a 2018 report which saw the school rated as inadequate.
Inspectors witnessed pupils swearing at each other, fire alarms being set off and youngsters attempting to smash through locked doors.
The report noted a "rapid decline" in the quality of education at the unit which deals with troubled youngsters aged five to 16 and had been rated 'good' during an inspection in 2015.
Inspectors branded the school building as not fit for purpose and criticised Walsall Council for its poor governance of the unit.
"The local authority has not provided effective support for the school," the report said.
"It has not ensured that pupils are cared for, or taught, sufficiently well enough.
"It has not held to account those who have been responsible for leading and governing the school."
The authority was ordered to take urgent steps to remedy the situation but plans for the new unit have only now been approved 18 months after inspectors visited.
Councillor Chris Towe, portfolio holder for education, said New Leaf would be closed and a new centre built to address concerns raised by Ofsted.
The plan was unanimously agreed and the council will now move to the next stage of design and feasibility for investment for the proposal.
Council leader Mike Bird: “These children have long suffered inadequate accommodation.
“However disruptive some of these children might be, they deserve to have good quality buildings.
“There is a theory, and I support it, that if you give a child good quality accommodation it adds to the learning experience.
“This is long overdue and I’m grateful we have got this to a situation where we can deliver this and move it forward as quickly as possible so I fully support this.”
