Joseph Norton Academy

Overview

Joseph Norton Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The school provides a safe and nurturing environment where pupils build high-quality relationships with staff and learn to manage their emotions. Pupils benefit from exceptional personal development opportunities and are well prepared for their next steps.

Strengths

• The school offers an "excellent array of personal development opportunities," including roles such as ‘kindness ambassador’ and participation in community events.
• Staff have "very high expectations" of pupils and provide thorough assessments of needs, ensuring correct provision for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Teachers are "skilled in delivering the curriculum," effectively identifying and addressing gaps in knowledge while helping pupils become "confident, fluent readers."
• Behaviour is managed well, allowing pupils to concentrate, and the school takes effective action based on attendance data, leading to improved attendance over time.
• Governors provide "effective challenge and support," ensuring the school continues to improve with sustainable, pupil-focused changes.

Areas to improve

• Specialist support for a few pupils at the earliest stages of writing is "not yet fully embedded," meaning their writing does not improve as quickly as it could.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.