Endeavour Academy, Oxford

Overview

Endeavour Academy continues to be a good school, providing a highly supportive environment for pupils with complex needs. Leaders have created a setting where pupils feel safe and valued, with staff demonstrating deep understanding of individual characteristics. The school fosters positive relationships and prepares pupils effectively for adult life through personalised curricula and real-world experiences.

Strengths

• Staff build "positive relationships" and use "ready smiles and ‘high fives’" to foster an "ethos of success".
• The curriculum is "personalised to their needs," helping pupils develop independence and social skills for adult life.
• Sixth-form students engage in "rich experiences" such as work placements and preparing school lunches, which "equip them well for the world beyond school".
• Staff are trained to respond skilfully to behaviour, promoting a "calm environment" where bullying does not occur.
• Parents describe the school as "‘life-changing’" and appreciate the "close cooperation between home and school".

Areas to improve

• Leaders must provide training to ensure consistent implementation of assistive communication for reading and writing, so pupils build knowledge "sequentially".
• Learning intentions for basic academic skills need to identify "precisely the necessary small steps in learning" to ensure activities match pupil needs.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff trained to spot signs of abuse and leaders following up concerns diligently to secure timely support.