New Level Academy

Overview

The report states that the school requires "urgent improvement" in achievement, curriculum, teaching, inclusion, and leadership, with independent school standards "not met" for education quality and leadership. While safeguarding standards are met and staff care for pupils, significant failures in teaching, assessment, and support for pupils with special educational needs mean pupils do not make sufficient progress or gain the knowledge needed for their future.

Strengths

• Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
• Staff develop "positive relationships" with pupils, who feel a sense of belonging and are "free from harassment or discrimination."
• The school environment is "typically calm," and staff generally deal with incidents of unkind language effectively to prevent escalation.
• Most staff feel supported regarding their workload and wellbeing.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must establish a "consistent and robust approach to assessment" to identify knowledge gaps and support secure learning.
• Teaching must be adapted effectively for all pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to ensure they access the curriculum.
• Leaders must strengthen the teaching of foundational knowledge, particularly in reading, and ensure the curriculum has sufficient breadth.

Safeguarding

The report confirms that safeguarding standards are met, noting that leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.