An education centre for excluded students has been hit with its second damning Ofsted report in less than a year.

The Kingsfield Centre in Chilton Way, Stowmarket, had a follow-up inspection this month after being branded “inadequate” in a full report in October last year.

An Ofsted inspector raised “serious concerns” about the behaviour and safety of pupils and the quality of leadership and management. The inspector called for the centre to be re-inspected at the “earliest opportunity”.

Much of the criticism is levelled at one of its satellite centres, the Kingsfield Alternative Provision Centre, in Bury St Edmunds.

The centre said work was being done to raise attainment, with high staff-to-pupil ratios in classrooms helping to address behavioural issues.

The Ofsted inspector said: “Expectations of what pupils should do independently are too low. For example, staff take breakfast orders and prepare food for pupils even though they are quite capable of doing these themselves.

“Pupils’ poor behaviour, including leaving lessons, wandering outside and using mobile phones, regularly disrupts their learning and that of others.

“They are unaware of the expectations of them, and are regularly rude and disrespectful to staff.

“At times, pupils’ poor behaviour escalates into serious incidents.”

Suffolk County Council’s influence was also called into question. With its support for improving behaviour having “little impact”, according to the report.

Marion Aust, executive headteacher, said: “Staff from Kingsfield PRU (Pupil Referral Unit) are working closely with staff from Kingsfield Alternative Provision (KAP) in Bury St Edmunds to raise attainment by sharing resources, expertise and our experiences of working with challenging students.

“At the PRU we work with children who have been excluded, or are close to being excluded, from mainstream schools as they have behavioural, social or emotional difficulties. The majority of the students who attend KAP have been permanently excluded from mainstream schools.”

The report also listed some improvements made including improved staff teamwork, improved teaching and opportunities for students to go on work experience.

A spokeswoman for the county council said it was reviewing its support of the centre so it helps address the issues.