Links Hatfield Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an inadequate school The school is failing to give pupils a reasonable standard of education. Leaders and governors are not collectively exhibiting the necessary capacity to improve provision in the school. The management committee and local authority have failed to stem the decline in standards.

The new headteacher has not been given adequate support to overcome the many issues facing the school. Teaching, learning and behaviour are inadequate. Most notably, the support for pupils at key stage 3 to improve their behaviours is not having a sustained or significant impact.

As a result, too much learning is disturbed by poor behaviour. Despite efforts by... leaders, there are too often occasions when pupils, ready for next-step provision, are kept waiting for local placements. This is especially true for a significant minority of pupils who require specialist provision.

Too many pupils do not achieve well at both key stages 3 and 4. Despite recent efforts by new leaders, pupils' attendance is low, often impacted by high exclusion rates. Pupils do not make the progress of which they are capable.

Too few pupils are accessing full-time education rapidly enough. This problem is being exacerbated by difficulties with transportation for a number of pupils and the location of the sites. Leadership is not yet effective.

While many leaders are still developing their roles, there is no shared understanding between leaders about the strategic vision of the school. The support for pupils who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities is not well developed or embedded in lessons. Teaching does not meet the needs of these pupils well enough.

The school has the following strengths Since her appointment, the headteacher, ably supported by her deputy, has restructured staffing and monitoring so that leaders can begin to address the issues facing the school. The headteacher has started to increase the welfare support that pupils receive. The curriculum is beginning to widen and improve, and the quality of teaching is starting to improve for key stage 4 pupils.

Information about this school

This is a smaller than average school. It is currently oversubscribed. The school provides short-term education and support to pupils who are vulnerable to exclusion or who have been permanently excluded from their mainstream schools in key stage 3.

It provides longer-term support for similar pupils in key stage 4. The school is comprised of two sites. The key stage 3 site provides education for a small number of pupils in Years 7 to 9, a number of whom have SEN and/or disabilities.

The key stage 4 site provides education for a larger cohort of pupils in Years 10 to 11. Pupils typically enter the school with achievement significantly below the national average or after an extended period without formal education. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils who are eligible for additional funding is above the national average.

The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is above the national average. Some pupils access alternative provision at Oaklands College. A number of pupils also undertake accredited courses and work experience in mechanics, plastering, and health and fitness, or engage with local community youth projects.

The information about the school on the Department for Education website (Get

Also at this postcode