The Dean Academy

Overview

The report describes a school where leaders have an accurate understanding of strengths and areas for development, with an inclusive culture that prioritises pupil wellbeing. While attendance and behaviour are at an expected standard, teaching quality and pupil achievement across the full curriculum require attention to ensure all pupils reach their potential.

Strengths

• A consistent behaviour curriculum and the ‘Call It Out’ campaign have created a calm school environment with a sharp decline in discriminatory incidents.
• Staff know pupils well, providing effective, personalised support for those with special educational needs and disabilities, particularly within the EPIC Resource Base.
• Leaders use additional funding effectively to support disadvantaged pupils, ensuring they access extra-curricular opportunities and well-chosen alternative provision.
• The personal development curriculum is robust, helping pupils understand healthy relationships, online safety, and local risks, while fostering a strong sense of community.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure highly effective teaching is embedded across the school, as current inconsistency weakens how well pupils learn the curriculum.
• Teachers need to use assessment strategies more accurately to identify misconceptions and gaps in understanding, preventing pupils from moving on before they are ready.
• Staff must raise expectations for the quality of written work, addressing common errors in spelling and punctuation to better prepare pupils for examinations.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where concerns are actively identified, acted upon, and managed, ensuring pupils feel safe.