Heron Hall Academy

Overview

Heron Hall Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The school is described as a highly inclusive community where pupils feel safe, value diversity, and achieve well in national examinations. Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school’s effectiveness and have identified appropriate priorities for further development.

Strengths

• Pupils are welcomed into a "highly inclusive community" and feel safe, knowing they can speak with staff about worries.
• The curriculum is "carefully considered" and "sequenced," helping pupils build a "sound body of knowledge" that builds on prior learning.
• Teachers have "strong subject knowledge," present information clearly, and routinely check understanding to swiftly correct misconceptions.
• Systems effectively support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those learning English, ensuring they access the same curriculum as peers.
• Staff enjoy working at the school, appreciate professional development opportunities, and feel their voices are heard.

Areas to improve

• The school should ensure all staff consistently apply the behaviour policy when pupils are moving around the building, as behaviour at these times does not always match leaders’ high expectations.
• In some subjects at an earlier stage of design, teaching does not consistently support pupils to learn and remember more; the taught curriculum must match leaders’ ambition for all pupils, including vulnerable ones.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.