Kirk Hallam Community Academy

Overview: Kirk Hallam Community Academy is a caring and welcoming school where most pupils enjoy learning. The school has improved and has a calm and orderly environment with positive relationships between staff and pupils.

Strengths:

• The school has high expectations of what pupils can achieve, including those with SEND.
• The school has designed a broad and ambitious curriculum for pupils.
• Teachers have good subject knowledge and explain new topics clearly.
• The school supports pupils who need help to improve their behaviour effectively.
• Pupils have many opportunities to learn about the world of work and are prepared well for their next steps.

Areas to improve:

• Some teachers do not check pupils' understanding well enough, leading to gaps in learning and misconceptions.
• Some teachers do not adapt their teaching or resources to support pupils with SEND to access the curriculum.
• Pupils at the early stages of learning to read are not getting the support they need to improve their reading accuracy and fluency.
• The school has not ensured that pupils are developing their understanding of fundamental British values.

Safeguarding: The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.