Venture Academy

Overview

Venture Academy is a special academy where staff demonstrate an "unconditional positive regard" for pupils, creating an environment where learners feel "happy, safe and settled." The report highlights exceptional personal development and a tailored curriculum that successfully supports pupils with complex needs, helping them grow in "confidence and resilience."

Strengths

• Staff build strong, compassionate relationships, with pupils noting teachers know them deeply, fostering a culture of "positive relationships along with compassion, ambition and partnership."
• The curriculum is "broad and ambitious," offering a wide range of qualifications and enrichment opportunities, including outdoor education and community involvement.
• Personal development is described as "exceptional," with significant emphasis on life skills, equality, diversity, and highly personalised careers advice ensuring all pupils have a destination matching their "dreams and aspirations."
• Leaders have created a "positive culture" where staff are valued, and effective partnerships with parents and agencies ensure everyone is "pulling in the same direction."

Areas to improve

• Teachers must improve how they check pupils’ understanding during lessons to ensure activities are appropriately challenging and to prevent teaching from moving too quickly or focusing on already grasped content.
• The school needs to improve breakout spaces for pupils who become anxious or experience sensory triggers, ensuring these areas are suitable for helping pupils "regain control of their emotions and actions" more quickly.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."