Harvey Willgoose's former school handed 'notice to improve' by Department for Education
The trust that runs All Saints Catholic High has been told to improve its processes
The school where Sheffield teenager Harvey Willgoose was stabbed to death has been ordered to make urgent improvements by the government.
The Department for Education (DfE) says the action focuses on pupil safety systems at All Saints Catholic High, not the specific incident in which the 15-year-old was killed by another student.
However it comes after concerns were previously raised about safety by Harvey's parents.
The 15 year old was stabbed during a lunch break by another 15 year old, Mohammed Umar Khan, last February.
Khan has since been jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years.
What has the Department for Education said?
In a letter to the St Clare Catholic Multi Academy Trust, a DfE official writes: "I am issuing the Trust with a Notice to Improve on safeguarding grounds."
"(An independent review into the incident) found... there were weaknesses in the school’s organisational structure and systems which contributed to a series of oversights, assumptions and misjudgements; and affected safeguarding decision-making.
"The requirements for information sharing as set out in the government’s statutory frameworks for safeguarding children, or the guidance for arranging managed moves were not followed.
"There was a lack of clarity about who was responsible for the implementation of the policy for searching, screening and confiscating
"There were multiple instances of poor record keeping and communication with relation to safeguarding matters.
"There was at least one instance of an unlawful suspension.
"Given the seriousness of the findings of the external review, it is clear that the Trust board has failed to comply with the safeguarding measures outlined in paragraph 1.14 of the Academy Trust Handbook."
"I recognise the cooperation and extensive discussions that have taken place between the Trust and officials.
"However, this notice will be in place until such time as I have full assurances that there are appropriate and compliant safeguarding controls at the Trust"
You can read the full letter on the Gov.uk website.
"Lessons have got to be learned"
Speaking to us earlier this afternoon Harvey's mum, Caroline, said:
"We think this is the first (notice to improve) that's gone out, which we felt like we were banging his head against a brick wall."
"We wanted (the school to release the report and they've been dead against releasing the report which I think is public interest. Lessons have got to be learned."
"I'm so glad that you know the government are taking control of these academies... like I've always said, and I said to Yvette Cooper when I met her last year, we want more control from these academies
"They're not there for the children, they're there for, like, they're a business, they're a brand, and children have got to come first."
"We want to see one by one, what is put in place from these recommendations".
"Safeguarding will always be our highest priority"
A spokesperson for St Clare Catholic Multi Academy Trust said:
"Harvey’s death was a profound tragedy and his loss is remembered every day by our community. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with Harvey’s family.
"The Trust is working closely with the DfE in relation to the notice. The DfE has requested that the Trust undertake a number of actions.
"The Trust has confirmed to the DfE that each of the seven requested actions for the Trust to carry out are already underway in line with the various processes that the Trust has been involved in over the last year.
"The Trust has provided information on these actions and confirmed that we will continue to work closely with the DfE on this process.
"The Board of the Trust will be collaborating with the DfE and other key partners over the coming months to finalise the actions and ensure that the notice is another step in this process as we continuously strengthen and improve best practice.
"From the outset, we have proactively engaged with the statutory safeguarding agencies and will continue to do so with a clear focus on providing the best possible environment for students.
"Safeguarding will always be our highest priority, and we remain fully committed to supporting our whole community as we move forward together."