King’s Academy Ringmer

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders', governors' and trustees' actions have led to rapid improvements in many aspects of the school. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the changes in the last two years.

Leaders have significantly improved the quality of teaching and learning. Teachers have high expectations of what pupils can achieve. As a result, pupils' progress has improved substantially and is in line with other pupils nationally.

GCSE results in 2018 were just above those of other schools nationally. Current pupils continue to make strong progress. Leaders have set clear expectations for behaviour.

Pupils behave well and the school is a calm and... orderly environment for learning. Governors and trustees know the school well and hold leaders to account very thoroughly about pupils' progress. Trustees have been very supportive.

They strengthened the teaching team so that pupils are taught by specialist teachers. Typically, teachers' insightful questioning and feedback both encourages and challenges pupils. On occasions, feedback is not precise enough to help pupils learn.

Teachers have strong subject knowledge. The curriculum is carefully planned to enable all pupils to make effective progress. Progress has improved in many subjects but is not consistently strong in all, particularly physical education (PE) and Spanish.

Pupils are confident learners. They are provided with many opportunities to take on positions of responsibility. Disadvantaged pupils are supported well.

They make similar progress to other pupils in the school. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are carefully guided in their learning. They make strong progress from their starting points.

The whole-school approach to literacy is supporting pupils to develop a wider vocabulary. Pupils joining the school with below-average levels of literacy improve their reading ages well. Leaders have improved pupils' attendance.

It is now in line with the national average. However, disadvantaged pupils who do not attend school regularly are not making enough progress. Pupils feel safe and they are supported well by adults in the school.

Pupils understand the risks of the modern world. Pupils are guided well in choosing appropriate courses for the next stage of their education. All school leavers continue in education, employment or training.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. The majority of pupils (91.2%) are of White British heritage, with a proportion of minority ethnic groups broadly in line with the national average.

The proportion of pupils (18.7%) who with SEND is above the national average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils (29.

3%) is just above the national average (28%). Currently, a small number of pupils attend home-based alternative provision provided by East Sussex local authority. The school is part of the King's Group Academies.