Mulberry Academy Hastings

Overview

The report describes a school where leaders have driven significant improvements in culture, attendance, and behaviour since the last inspection. While safeguarding standards are met and the curriculum is generally taught well, academic achievement remains an area requiring attention as leaders work to embed strategies for raising attainment.

Strengths

• Leaders have established "clear and effective systems to support attendance," resulting in rising attendance and declining persistent absence.
• Pupils behave well in a "routinely calm" environment, with "warm and respectful" relationships between staff and pupils.
• The curriculum is "ambitious, broad and balanced," with staff using subject knowledge to provide "clear explanations."
• The school promotes an "inclusive culture," with support well-matched to the needs of disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.
• Pupils benefit from a "well-designed personal, social and health education programme" and meaningful responsibilities that develop their character.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure strategies to improve pupils’ learning and achievement are "embedded and lead to swift further improvements."
• Teachers should use ongoing checks on learning "consistently well" to adapt the curriculum to meet pupils' specific needs.
• There is work to do on closing gaps in knowledge, such as improving the consistency of pupils’ handwriting and presentation.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing "an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns actively managed.