School where parents protested 'no longer failing'

A Berkshire secondary school which saw parents protest over how it was being run is "no longer failing" after a major turnaround, the academy trust boss running it has said.

Oakbank School in Ryeish Green, Berkshire, was rated inadequate in all four key areas by Ofsted at an inspection in 2024.

Parents protested outside the school gates calling for improvements before Greenshaw Learning Trust (GLT) took over running it from Anthem Schools Trust in September 2025.

GLT's chief executive Will Smith hailed the school's progress at a meeting of Wokingham Council's children's scrutiny committee on Monday.

He said the trust inherited a school facing "deep systematic safeguarding, behavioural and educational outcome challenges".

"It was a failing school," he told councillors. "I am pleased to say that it is my view, although we haven't had Ofsted back, that it is no longer a failing school and it is absolutely moving in the right direction."

Smith said the trust spent the past year transforming the way the school operated and its approach to children's education.

Its aim, he said, had been to establish a calm and safe environment "where teachers can teach, where children can learn free from distractions" and where vulnerable children are "supported rather than excluded".

Parents raised concerns with the BBC after more than 100 pupils were suspended over eight months until the end of May 2024.

Smith said this summer Oakbank achieved its best-ever set of GCSE results. The pass rate including English and maths was close to 60%, while 72% of pupils passed English.

But councillors heard rebuilding the school's reputation remains a challenge.

At the same committee meeting a year ago, Smith acknowledged Oakbank's reputation meant some local parents were sending their children to schools much further away.

He said "every day is an open day" and parents and councillors are welcome to visit and see the school for themselves.

He acknowledged the previous Ofsted report continued to hang over Oakbank's reputation because inspectors have not returned since GLT took over.

Asked by Councillor Andrew Gray whether the trust could invite Ofsted back early, Mr Smith said it was possible but carried "a certain element of risk".

He said Greenshaw would consider doing so if it believed the time was right.