Ormiston Queensmill Academy

Overview

This inspection found that leaders have successfully tackled previous safeguarding weaknesses while maintaining a good quality of education. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities enjoy school, benefit from calm routines, and are supported to build confidence and independence. The report notes that the school no longer requires significant improvement.

Strengths

• Staff adapt lessons effectively, using small steps and accessible resources to help pupils understand and communicate.
• The curriculum is typically well-sequenced, allowing pupils to embed important ideas, such as moving from gestures to words in language and communication.
• Leaders provide ambitious activities, including residential visits and public performances, helping pupils realise ‘they are part of something bigger’.
• Pupils behave considerately and feel secure, with staff effectively identifying and following up on rare instances of bullying.
• Teachers have secure subject knowledge and work effectively with support staff and therapists to create interesting, accessible lessons.

Areas to improve

• In a few subjects, the sequence and content of the curriculum are not clearly identified, and leaders should ensure key ideas are explicitly defined.
• Teachers’ confidence in using assessment materials to check pupil understanding is variable, requiring further development of skills in this area.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff trained to raise concerns and governors checking that safety measures are consistently implemented.