Forest Academy

Overview

Forest Academy is described as a “welcoming place” where pupils feel safe, happy, and supported within a culture of respect. Leaders have designed an “ambitious and well-ordered curriculum” that matches national aims, resulting in pupils achieving well overall and maintaining high attendance. The school fosters strong personal development through its PSHE programme and careers education, with staff demonstrating strong subject knowledge and a positive working relationship with pupils.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “ambitious and well-ordered,” with knowledge carefully considered and taught in a logical order to support subsequent learning.
• Pupils behave well in a “calm environment,” with low-level disruption not tolerated and bullying dealt with swiftly when it occurs.
• Teachers are subject specialists who “model work clearly” and promote the use of subject-specific vocabulary across the curriculum.
• Leaders prioritise reading, ensuring weaker readers are identified early and receive targeted support to become fluent.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are “quickly and accurately identified” and receive professional specialist support.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, teachers’ checking of pupils’ understanding is variable, meaning misconceptions are not routinely addressed and pupils do not develop a deep understanding of key concepts.
• Curriculum sequencing in some subjects is at an “early stage of implementation” and not fully embedded, affecting how well teaching helps pupils build securely on prior knowledge.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting a strong culture where staff are vigilant, trained appropriately, and work well with external agencies to support vulnerable pupils.