A private school where pupils are taught through art and movement and encouraged not to become “exposed to the trappings of self image and consumerism” remains inadequate after a second inspection in six months.

Ofsted inspectors lifted the lid on a litany of failings at the £10,000-a-year New Canterbury School in Garlinge Green last year, which runs under the Steiner educational philosophy.

Pupils at the site near Chartham are encouraged to develop “heads, hearts and hands” by focusing on environmental and ecological awareness and lead “purposeful and fulfilling” lives through its teachings.

But inspectors from the education watchdog were left unimpressed and slapped the school with an inadequate rating in October last year.

An unannounced re-inspection in April, the report of which was released this week, found some improvements but determined it still does not meet independent school standards.

Ofsted says the school - which has pupils aged three to 11 - has had a “turbulent and disrupted short history” after being given two inadequate reports since opening in 2019.

A Steiner school, also known as a Waldorf school, is based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, a 19th century Austrian occultist, philosopher and teacher, who believed more in gentle teachings.

“The head teacher reports that she was not surprised by the findings of the previous inspection,” the re-inspection report states.

“She admits to feeling overwhelmed previously by the different demands on her time and being without sufficient leadership capacity around her.

“This situation has improved but there is further to go.”

New School Canterbury says it wants its children to “care for the planet out of love and respect rather than fear of what will happen if they don't”.

Youngsters take part in land care and environmental awareness classes, which helps pupils develop an eco-garden, learning about rainwater harvesting, organic farming, permaculture, foraging and caring for bees.

Children are told not to wear clothes with large pictures, logos or slogans so they are “not exposed to advertisements or the trappings of self image and consumerism”.

Canterbury Steiner School closed its doors in 2017 but parents and teachers formed the New School two years later.

There are about 46 pupils at the site in Garlinge Green, near Chartham, and charges between £8,109 to £9,240 a year.

The previous Ofsted report found a “lack of ambition” in the curriculum for the youngest pupils and their behaviour is sometimes not good because they “were bored and not challenged”.

Concerns were also raised about safeguarding guidance given to staff, which found “many errors” and referred to documents that do not exist.

It was also discovered staff did not know how to report concerns about a child if the head teacher was not on the school site - while recruitment procedures for a member of staff to join imminently were deemed to be “extremely weak”.

Since then, a re-inspection found there has been a “significant amount” of safeguarding training for leaders, staff and trustees.

“Staff have clearly benefited from the increased focus on safeguarding and the additional training...”

“Staff have clearly benefited from the increased focus on safeguarding and the additional training,” the report says.

“Leaders and staff say that they feel much more confident about safeguarding, and this is evident when speaking with them.

“Staff speak knowledgeably about how to identify and act on concerns, referring specifically to recognised good practice in terms of how to record and report issues.”

Inspectors say leaders and staff are “vigilant” in regard to pupils’ welfare and an action plan formed by the school included the appointment of an external improvement partner.

They also note how the trustee board is very new but is already proving to be a “significant asset”.

It adds: “They have achieved much in a very short space of time.”

“As the report recognises, we have been prompt to take ‘significant steps’ to stabilise and improve the school...”

Pupils learn in wooden classrooms which the school says offers the children a “beautiful environment” surrounded by an organic farm.

The site also has expansive outdoor areas and a 150-seat theatre.

Beth Cuenco, head teacher of New School, welcomed the Ofsted report which she described as “balanced”.

She said: “Its inspectors found that there has been ‘much improvement’ in our governance and noted the deep experience and skills of our new board of trustees.

"Our rapidly maturing leadership team particularly welcomes Ofsted’s assessment that our ‘leaders and staff are vigilant in regard to pupils’ welfare’.

"As the report recognises, we have been prompt to take ‘significant steps’ to stabilise and improve the school and will continue strengthening our governance as we implement Ofsted’s recommendations.

“Our school was initially set up by parents wanting a creative, happy and less stressful educational experience for their children.

“Formal learning starts at age six, giving early years children the time to develop and grow appropriately through play and exploration, whilst laying the foundations for both creative and critical thinking in future.

“When children start formal learning at age six, as they do in most other countries with successful education provision, they learn more quickly and with enthusiasm.

“Inspectors comment on how happy our children are.”