St Andrew's Academy

Overview

St Andrew’s Academy continues to be a good school, providing a supportive environment where pupils are "warmly welcomed and well cared for." The report highlights strong relationships, with staff being "highly trained" and skilled at meeting pupils' complex needs, resulting in students who are "safe and happy."

Strengths

• The curriculum is "ambitious" and designed to meet individual needs, with a clear intent for what pupils should learn in most subjects.
• Staff model "kindness and respect," fostering polite and considerate behaviour among pupils who engage well with their learning.
• The ‘Learning for Life’ programme provides "excellent opportunities" to prepare pupils for adult life, including work experience and community involvement.
• Pupils’ communication and sensory needs are well supported, particularly in specific classes, helping them remain "calm and focused."
• Leaders provide expert support and care for staff well-being, while maintaining close contact with families.

Areas to improve

• The new mathematics curriculum is not yet fully embedded, leading to uncertainty about teaching sequences and pupils encountering topics before securing necessary number skills.
• The ‘total communication approach’ is not consistently embedded across all classes, with some staff missing opportunities to develop communication skills and not all pupils having communication profiles.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.