Great Park Academy

Overview

Great Park Academy is described as a "calm and purposeful school" where pupils "thrive, personally and academically," despite operating from temporary accommodation. Leaders have successfully established a clear school identity, resulting in high attendance and exceptional personal development for students.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate "exemplary" behaviour, showing high levels of respect and acting maturely, with bullying being "rare" and effectively addressed.
• The school offers an "exceptional personal development programme," where pupils gain deep knowledge of moral codes and are explicitly taught to "debate respectfully."
• Attendance is "very high," with leaders working effectively with families to quickly identify and overcome barriers to regular attendance.
• Pupils achieve highly in end-of-Year 6 national curriculum tests in mathematics and English, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Reading is prioritised through initiatives like the ‘50 book challenge’, ensuring pupils’ reading levels reach those required for success in wider studies.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects without a substantive leader, systems to check pupils’ knowledge are delayed, meaning gaps in learning are "not always identified and addressed." Leaders must ensure effective systems exist in all subjects to monitor understanding.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."