A respected Sikh-ethos school has received a devastating double blow after a 'whistleblowing' allegation about pupils' safeguarding led to an Ofsted inspection and a shattering 'inadequate' rating.

The Khalsa Academies Trust at Hollybush Hill, Stoke Poges has been rated as 'good' as recently as 2017.

But last month chairman of trustees Inder Singh Uppal received notice from the Department of Education's Regional Schools Commissioner Dame Kate Dethridge warning that concerns that had been expressed to her office about the safeguarding of pupils. Unless action was taken this could lead to a 'termination warning' notice.

The letter was followed by an Government by an unannounced Government Ofsted inspection which devastatingly found the school 'inadequate'

The report found that proper recruitment checks had not been carried out on staff and that leaders responsible for pupils' safety had not been properly trained.

It also referred to a 'serious incident' currently being investigated.

The inspectors felt that pupils with special needs were not having their needs met and that reading was not being prioritised - the school does not have a library.

A press release on behalf of the school on behalf of Inder Singh Uppal and the trust's CEO Nick Singh Kandola said: "We are very disappointed in the outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection.

"The no notice inspection was triggered by Ofsted receiving very specific whistleblowing allegations about safeguarding."

It acknowledges there was need for improvement, saying: "The vast majority of these gaps have now been addressed and pupils are safe and well cared for at this school.

"We have made some significant changes in governance at the school as well as at trust level."

But a statement attributed to 'Khalsa Secondary Academy Parents' this week said: "We have absolutely no confidence in the Board of Directors of Khalsa Academies Trust.'

It calls on all parents and prospective parents to contact the Regional Schools Commissioner to express their dis-satisfaction with the Trust that runs the school and to call for the current Board of Directors to be replaced.

The parents' statement claims a lack of engagement by the school with no P-TA or parent forum, lack of basic facilities such as a sports hall, or a library. It also sites a 'toxic dictatorial environment' when dealing with the board that puts parents off getting involved.

Khalsa Secondary School is a Sikh-ethos school academy free school that takes pupils of all faiths aged 11 to 19. It has 427 pupils on roll.