Birches Head Academy

Overview

The report states that Birches Head Academy “no longer requires significant improvement” following a full inspection. While leaders have driven “positive changes” in behaviour, attendance, and curriculum structure over the last two years, most inspection judgements remain at “Needs attention.” The school is described as a “calm and orderly environment” where pupils feel safe, though inconsistencies in teaching quality and pupil attitudes persist.

Strengths

• Safeguarding standards are met, with an “open culture” where concerns are “actively identified, acted upon and managed.”
• Behaviour has “improved significantly,” with successful work to address previous bullying concerns and a “calm and orderly” school environment.
• The pastoral system is a strength, with staff working together to provide a “comprehensive understanding of pupils’ needs.”
• Pupils new to English as an additional language make “rapid progress,” and the strategy for literacy and numeracy is “making a real difference.”
• Staff feel “well supported” by leaders, who prioritise wellbeing and provide a “well-designed professional development programme.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure teaching strategies are “embedded” and used to a “consistent standard” so pupils secure “depth of knowledge.”
• Leaders should reduce persistent absence and suspensions, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Leaders must ensure all pupils understand the importance of treating each other with “respect” and the impact of their language.

Safeguarding

The report confirms that safeguarding standards are met, noting that leaders have established an “open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility” and that pupils are “made safer and feel safe.”