Outwood Academy Portland

Overview

The report describes a school with a “focused, orderly and calm ethos” where pupils are “known and cared for very well.” Leaders have driven significant improvements in behaviour and the quality of education, resulting in reduced suspensions and a positive staff culture. However, variability exists in parental views due to communication gaps regarding recent changes, and attendance remains a concern for some pupils.

Strengths

• Pupils display “polite, courteous and purposeful” conduct within a respectful and well-established routine.
• The curriculum is well-structured, enabling pupils to build knowledge over time, with specific support for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Strong pastoral care ensures pupils feel safe, with initiatives like ‘Portland Read’ nurturing a love of reading and understanding of diversity.
• Sixth-form provision is effective, with students receiving strong support and being “well prepared for their next steps.”
• Staff morale is high, with employees valuing the positive cultural changes and manageable workloads.

Areas to improve

• The school must raise learning expectations for all pupils, including those with SEND, to ensure they “know and remember more in the long term.”
• Leaders need to communicate the rationale for raised behavioural and learning expectations more effectively to parents.
• The school must address high absence rates, particularly among disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, by providing necessary support and challenge to parents.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”