North Star 240°

Overview

North Star 240° is a special academy for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, judged as ‘Good’ overall. The report highlights a ‘caring, yet ambitious, ethos’ where ‘strong, trusting relationships’ help pupils manage anxieties and engage with a ‘well organised’ curriculum. Leaders demonstrate ‘integrity and determination’ in driving improvement, particularly in reading and attendance, though some inconsistencies remain in assessment practices.

Strengths

• ‘Consistent routines and high expectations’ help pupils manage ‘anxieties and communication barriers’.
• The curriculum is ‘well organised’ with ‘detailed, sequenced plans’ ensuring precise content delivery.
• ‘Strong, trusting relationships’ exist between staff and pupils, fostering a sense of safety and belonging.
• Leaders have ‘recently improved the quality of reading’ and promoted enjoyment through daily opportunities.
• The PSHE curriculum supports pupils in understanding safety issues, including ‘online sexual abuse’.

Areas to improve

• ‘The weakest readers do not have the help they need to catch up with reading quickly.’
• ‘Assessment in key stage 3 is sometimes not used to adapt the curriculum,’ leading to unaddressed misconceptions.
• ‘Some pupils do not attend school often enough,’ requiring better support for those who can access the site and high-quality provision for those who cannot.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with a ‘strong culture’ where staff are ‘vigilant’ and understand how to report concerns.