Barbara Priestman Academy

Overview

Barbara Priestman Academy continues to be a good school, providing a calm and purposeful environment where pupils feel safe and happy. Leaders maintain high expectations, aiming to help pupils become ‘wonderful adults’ through a well-developed curriculum and strong personal development opportunities. The school effectively supports pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, ensuring they are well-prepared for their next steps in education or employment.

Strengths

• Pupils behave well, are respectful, and engage positively in lessons, contributing to a "calm atmosphere throughout the school."
• Leaders have redeveloped an "ambitious curriculum" that is "highly developed and embedded" in most subjects, with careful consideration of what pupils should know and remember.
• The school prioritises communication skills, implementing a new phonics programme and providing "effective personalised interventions" for pupils who struggle with reading.
• Sixth-form students receive "focused support," including independent travel training and work placements, which helps them develop the skills needed for college or employment.
• Staff feel well supported by leaders and trustees, who provide effective challenge and manage workloads well.

Areas to improve

• Some aspects of the recently introduced English and communication curriculum are "less well embedded" and do not consistently match the quality of other subject areas.
• Staff need additional time and support to deliver these new curriculum developments consistently well, with subject leaders required to monitor progress closely.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.