Small Heath Leadership Academy

Overview

Small Heath Leadership Academy is a secondary academy where pupils value the education they receive and feel supported by staff. The report highlights a community built on ‘STAR’ values, where diversity is celebrated and bullying is rare. Leaders have high aspirations for pupils, who work hard to meet these expectations and benefit from extensive leadership opportunities and community links.

Strengths

• Pupils appreciate the ‘STAR’ values of service, teamwork, ambition, and respect, which foster a supportive community where diversity is celebrated.
• Leaders have designed a ‘well-sequenced curriculum’ in most subjects, with important knowledge clearly identified for effective teaching.
• Teachers manage behaviour well through ‘clear, consistent routines’, and pupils understand expectations and consequences.
• The school promotes reading effectively, with early identification of struggling readers and support to develop fluent skills.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive appropriate support, including high-quality provision for those with hearing difficulties.

Areas to improve

• Teachers do not consistently use checks on pupils’ learning to inform their practice, leading to unremedied gaps in knowledge.
• Pupils are not routinely given sufficient opportunities to ‘deepen and extend their knowledge’ in lessons, hindering long-term retention.
• Some SEND support plans lack useful information, requiring review to ensure teachers have the correct details to support pupils effectively.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with experienced leaders who understand risks and deal with complex cases by making appropriate referrals and ensuring pupils receive necessary help.