King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy

Overview

The report describes a school where leaders provide effective strategic leadership, resulting in attendance that is now above the national average and behaviour that is generally calm and respectful. However, overall attainment and progress remain modest, with many measures below national comparisons, due to inconsistencies in how the curriculum is taught and assessed.

Strengths

• Attendance is improving overall and is now above the national average, supported by robust systems and targeted interventions like ‘ACE mentors’.
• Pupils behave well, are sensible and respectful, and feel safe, aided by well-established routines and the effective ‘PALS’ support hub.
• The school has a well-embedded approach to inclusion, collaborating effectively with families and external services to provide high-quality pastoral care.
• Disadvantaged pupils achieve more closely to similar pupils nationally, indicating that the pupil premium strategy is largely effective.
• Staff wellbeing is prioritised effectively, with leaders maintaining positive relationships with parents and supporting staff workload.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure teachers use assessment effectively to adapt lessons to meet individual pupils’ needs, reducing variability in teaching quality.
• Leaders should reduce variability in the delivery of the personal development programme to ensure pupils learn securely about British values and protected characteristics.
• The trust should ensure governance consistently provides incisive challenge and support, focusing sharply on the impact of strategies on pupils’ achievement.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where concerns are actively identified, acted upon, and managed, ensuring pupils are made safer and feel safe.