Highfield Ely Academy

Overview

Highfield Ely Academy remains a ‘good’ school, with evidence suggesting it could achieve ‘outstanding’ if a graded inspection were conducted. Pupils with complex needs ‘flourish as individuals’ in a ‘stimulating learning environment’ where staff provide ‘exceptional’ care and support.

Strengths

• The curriculum is ‘well-sequenced and highly ambitious’, broken into ‘small, achievable steps’ aligned with pupils’ special educational needs.
• Staff have an ‘excellent understanding’ of pupils’ needs, ensuring lessons are ‘purposeful and engaging’ and helping pupils ‘communicate and express themselves’.
• Reading and communication are prioritised, with ‘highly skilled’ adults delivering phonics that enable pupils to read ‘fluently and with confidence’.
• ‘Exemplary’ attendance is maintained through effective work with parents, despite the ‘adversity some pupils face’.
• Personal, social, health and economic education instils values of ‘equity, respect, perseverance, kindness and compassion’, preparing pupils for ‘safe, happy lives’.

Areas to improve

• The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with an ‘open and positive culture’ that puts pupils’ interests first.