Co-op Academy Brierley

Overview

Co-op Academy Brierley is a rapidly growing special needs academy where leaders have established a "highly inclusive culture" and "strong standard" in attendance, behaviour, inclusion, and leadership. While pupils are "cared for deeply" and make suitable progress, the report identifies that teaching and curriculum delivery currently meet only the "expected standard," with inconsistencies in addressing knowledge gaps.

Strengths

• Attendance has "consistently improved" due to a "no excuses culture" and prompt follow-up on absences.
• Behaviour is managed through "clear policy," "consistent routines," and "positive relationships," ensuring pupils feel "secure and ready to learn."
• Inclusion is "highly inclusive," with "highly personalised" support and "thorough" transition processes for pupils’ specific needs.
• Leadership is "well structured," with leaders who "know what the school needs" and provide "meticulous" professional learning for staff.
• Personal development is a "defining feature," offering enrichment like "forest school" and "animal care" to build independence.

Areas to improve

• Staff must consistently prioritise "the most important knowledge that pupils need to learn" to embed prior knowledge securely.
• Leaders should ensure staff identify and address "gaps in pupils’ knowledge promptly and consistently" to improve work quality.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."