The Springfields Academy

Overview

The Springfields Academy is a specialist school where all pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities. The report describes a setting with an "unrelenting focus on pupils' next steps," where leaders and staff work tirelessly to remove barriers to learning, resulting in "life-changing outcomes" and a culture where pupils feel "safe, valued and confident."

Strengths

• Inclusion is rated "Exceptional," with a "firmly embedded inclusive culture" where education, health and care plans are broken down into achievable steps.
• Leadership is "Exceptional," with a vision to be a "beacon of excellence" that shares expertise nationally and internationally.
• Personal development is "Exceptional," featuring a "meticulously crafted" programme for adulthood, including residential trips and the 'HEARD' pupil voice framework.
• Achievement is a "Strong standard," with pupils making "accelerated progress" and achieving well in communication and reading.
• Attendance and behaviour are a "Strong standard," with "consistently positive" behaviour, rare bullying, and improving attendance through personalised support.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should "sustain the high standards in the curriculum and teaching" to ensure pupils consistently achieve "exceptionally high standards" in all learning elements.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" ensuring pupils are made safer and feel safe.