Sir Christopher Hatton Academy

Overview

The report describes a school where leaders encourage pupils to ‘aim for excellence’, resulting in positive attitudes and high aspirations. Most pupils show respect for others and act as ‘upstanders’, while the sixth-form provision is judged ‘exceptional’ with students well prepared for adulthood. The curriculum is generally well thought out, though implementation varies across key stages.

Strengths

• The sixth-form provision is ‘exceptional’, with students enjoying a ‘demanding curriculum’ and securing appropriate next steps.
• Personal development is ‘far-reaching’, with pupils enjoying extensive sporting, creative, and cultural experiences and a ‘comprehensive appreciation of diversity’.
• Teachers are ‘subject experts’ who use in-depth knowledge to make helpful links between existing and new information.
• Safeguarding arrangements are ‘effective’, with knowledgeable leaders paying close attention to pupils at risk of harm.
• Leaders’ support for disadvantaged pupils is ‘particularly effective’, and trustees provide ‘rigorous challenge’.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the key-stage-3 curriculum is ‘implemented consistently well in all subjects’ and meets pupils’ specific learning needs, as some produce poor-quality or unfinished work.
• Leaders must ensure all staff implement the behaviour policy ‘consistently’, as a small number of pupils sometimes show a lack of respect and staff responses vary.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’, with staff well trained to act promptly on concerns and pupils feeling safe in school and the local community.