School of murdered Sheffield teen Harvey Willgoose praised by Ofsted for safeguarding reforms
“Leaders have navigated the school through difficult times”
The impact of a Sheffield teenager’s murder at his own secondary school can be felt in its latest Ofsted report.
Sheffield and the community of All Saints Catholic High School, in Granville Road, were sent reeling in February 2025 when 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose was stabbed to death by classmate Mohammed Umar Khan.
In he aftermath, safeguarding at the school came under intense scrutiny.
And earlier this year, a formal warning by the Department for Education was placed on the school’s operator, St Clare Catholic Multi Academy Trust, after a review found serious weaknesses in safeguarding, with detailed actions it was required to take.
Now, Ofsted’s latest report has been published based on a visit in April - where inspectors praise the school for “navigating through difficult times.”
‘Energetic atmosphere evident in this large multicultural school’
The report reads: “Leaders have navigated the school through difficult times, responding appropriately and with urgency to external guidance.
“[Pupils] feel safe and form trusting bonds with adults. This is, in part, a result of the steps leaders have taken to improve how the school safeguards pupils.
“There is little bullying, and staff deal with any that occurs. However, leaders are rightly taking steps to ensure that all pupils’ behaviour is respectful of others' backgrounds and contexts.”
The report rated All Saints as achieving the ‘expected standard’ in all areas under its new inspection guidelines unveiled this year.
Harvey’s murder is never directly referred to in the report, but the impact on the school’s culture, safeguarding, and how leaders like headteacher Sean Pender have responded in the last 18 months are evident throughout.
Khan’s trial and a subsequent scathing external review heard how the “weapon obsessed” 15-year-old was transferred to All Saints from Silverdale School months before the murder. At his previous school a total of 130 incidents were recorded against him in the space of three years, some involving violence, gangs and weapons.
All Saints’ latest Ofsted report reads: “More recently, leaders have established clearer processes to make sure they gather necessary information about pupils joining the school, including those joining midway through the academic year. This information includes pupils’ academic and social needs, including those related to safeguarding and behaviour.”
Inspectors also noted improved outcomes students in recent years and a “drive” to boost disadvantaged pupils’ achievement, and that persistent absences have “considerably” reduced.
It reads: “Pupils play their full part in creating the energetic atmosphere evident in this large multicultural school.
“...detailed safeguarding plans have been created which are regularly reviewed and amended where necessary.
“They also study important knowledge about relationships, wellbeing and life in multi-cultural Britain.
“Additionally, the school has introduced new and effective ways pupils and staff can share a safeguarding concern or nagging doubt.
“Leaders have taken effective steps to better support pupils who need additional help to regulate their behaviour, including pupils returning from suspension.”
Steve Davies, chief executive of St Clare Catholic Multi Academy Trust said Harvey’s tragic death had not been forgotten at the school.
He said: “Harvey’s death was a profound tragedy and he is remembered every day by his classmates, teachers and our wider community. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with Harvey’s family and loved ones.
“Since February 2025, the School and Trust have implemented every single one of the recommendations outlined in the external report. We will continue to collaborate with the Department for Education and other key partners as we focus on providing the best possible environment for students.”
Independent review
The Ofsted report is in stark contrast to several scathing reviews of All Saints published in the last year.
An external review by Learn Sheffield found “several missed opportunities” prior to Harvey’s murder to act on serious warning signs, including concerns about weapons and violent behaviour.
One of the most serious findings was that safeguarding and behaviour records were not properly reviewed before Khan moved to All Saints from another school.
In October 2024, pupils reported that Khan had previously carried a knife and brought a BB gun on a school trip.
Staff searched him but did not carry out a risk assessment or put a safety plan in place.
Two months later, an axe was found in his bag off-site. Police were informed, but no follow-up action took place in school.
Despite an open investigation into a fresh knife allegation, Khan was allowed into school on the day of the killing without being searched.
The report described this as a collective leadership failure.
Harvey’s family has publicly rejected the latest Ofsted report.
His sister, Sophie, wrote in a Facebook post on July 11: “I’ve kept my mouth shut for too long. How on earth can Ofsted say that All Saints Catholic High School is a ‘Good’ school and have safeguarding standards met.
“My brother was stabbed to death and told members of staff that the school had knives.
“Learn Sheffield were commissioned to investigate and found ‘serious failings and oversights’ and the DfE also issued a notice to improve and found unlawful findings in relation to safeguarding.”
Meanwhile, Harvey’s mother, Caroline, slammed the inspection as “a joke”.