Three Rivers Academy

Overview

The report describes a school where “pupils are happy and safe” and where staff maintain a “resolute focus to progress” despite recent challenges. Inspectors found that the school’s “high aspirations for pupils’ behaviour and achievement are known widely,” with values evident in all classrooms. The inspection confirms that the school provides a broad curriculum and strong support for personal development, though it notes there is “still more to do” in specific areas.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “broad and balanced,” with “expert staff” delivering teaching that helps pupils acquire knowledge that “builds over time.”
• Personal development is prioritised through “expertly” delivered ‘Aware’ lessons and numerous opportunities for pupils to take on leadership roles and develop character.
• Sixth-form provision is praised, with students acting as “excellent role models” and benefiting from a “particularly broad” range of academic and vocational subjects.
• Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” and the school has created an “open and positive culture” that puts pupils’ interests first.
• Staff feel “valued highly” due to thoughtful consideration of workload and professional development opportunities.

Areas to improve

• In key stage 3, some teachers do not ensure pupils “learn and remember crucial information as well as they could,” leading to unaddressed gaps in knowledge.
• “Too many disadvantaged pupils, including pupils with SEND, still miss too much school,” risking them falling further behind.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”