Alford Academy

Overview

The inspection team found that Alford Academy benefits from "strong, caring leadership" which supports the whole school community in improving young people’s experiences. The school demonstrates good performance in leading change and raising attainment, though learning, teaching, and wellbeing are currently evaluated as satisfactory. Inspectors are confident the school has the capacity to continue improving without further visits.

Strengths

• "Strong, caring leadership of the headteacher" is supporting the community to work together.
• An "increasing range of pathways" in S4-6 helps young people achieve positive destinations, including employment and education.
• "Strong partnership working" with local and national organisations helps young people develop valuable employability skills.

Areas to improve

• Improve the quality of learning and teaching so that it is "consistently high across the school" to support raising attainment.
• Strengthen approaches to relationship building so all young people experience a "positive and calm environment" that maximises learning.
• Continue to raise attainment in literacy and numeracy.

Safeguarding

The report evaluates the quality indicator for "Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion" as satisfactory, noting plans to strengthen relationship building to ensure a positive environment for all young people.