Crofton Academy

Overview

Crofton Academy is described as a "school transformed since the last inspection," with significantly raised expectations for behaviour and academic achievement. Pupils are increasingly meeting these higher standards, resulting in examination outcomes that are "broadly in line with national averages in most subjects." The school fosters a calm environment where bullying is uncommon and staff apply rules consistently.

Strengths

• Behaviour is "calm" with "high levels of respect between pupils and with adults," and disruptions are dealt with "quickly and effectively."
• Attendance is now "above the national average" due to simple, consistently applied approaches and close work with families.
• Teachers receive "high-quality professional development," leading to a structured teaching approach that helps pupils, including those with SEND, learn more effectively.
• Pupils with visual impairments "play a full part in school life," with resources adapted to ensure they fully benefit from lessons.
• Leaders have successfully reduced staff workload, ensuring staff are only asked to do things that "will make a difference to pupils."

Areas to improve

• Leaders should review curriculum implementation to ensure the highly structured teaching approach supports "those pupils who find learning most challenging, and the most able, to achieve as highly as they could."
• Leaders must evaluate the impact of recent changes to ensure they have had the "positive impact desired," as they currently cannot be sure of the long-term effect.
• Pupils’ knowledge of "democratic structures in the UK is often poor," and leaders have not yet checked that pupils are learning the intended personal development curriculum in the longer term.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff aware of risk signs and pupils confident that concerns would be "dealt with effectively."