St Aldhelm's Academy

Overview

The report states that the school “requires significant improvement” because it is “performing significantly less well than it might in all the circumstances reasonably be expected to perform.” While leaders have taken “decisive action” to address past turbulence, recent changes in curriculum and behaviour policies have not yet resulted in sustained improvements in pupil achievement or consistent teaching quality.

Strengths

• Safeguarding standards are met, with an “open culture” where concerns are “actively identified, acted upon and managed.”
• Careers education, advice, and guidance is identified as a “strength of the school,” with pupils well informed about next steps.
• Leaders have strengthened the professional learning programme, and staff “typically feel well supported” in implementing new frameworks.
• The school provides a range of enrichment activities, including residential trips and workshops, and has improved identification of speech and language needs.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure a “clear and coherent approach to closing gaps in pupils’ foundational knowledge,” including vocabulary and handwriting.
• Staff must teach curriculum content effectively and “check carefully that pupils understand before they move on to new learning.”
• Leaders must strengthen oversight of provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to ensure adaptations are “delivered consistently well.”

Safeguarding

The report confirms that safeguarding standards are met, noting that leaders have established an “open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility” and that “pupils are made safer and feel safe.”