Admirals Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils flourish at Admirals Academy. They are proud of their school. They feel safe and confident to be themselves.

Pupils strive to embody the school's values of aspiration, respect and kindness.

Pupils actively make their school a special place to learn. They share ideas for developing the school with regular pupil-led assemblies.

All pupils, including for those pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), know that staff value their opinion and voice.

Pupils' behaviour across the school is excellent. Strong relationships between staff and pupils help foster positive learning attitudes.

Pupils with more complex needs g...et extra help to manage their emotions. Caring staff and a highly effective pastoral team support them exceptionally well.

Staff encourage pupils to try their best.

Pupils mostly respond to this by eagerly contributing their ideas. This aspiration, alongside a thoughtfully constructed curriculum, is helping pupils' achievement to improve.

Educational experiences beyond the classroom enable pupils to make sense of the world they live in.

Carefully chosen activities enrich the taught curriculum well. For example, through links to Thetford Guildhall Heritage, pupils develop a strong sense of community.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has a clear and consistent vision that is shared by all.

With the trust, they are committed to creating a climate where everyone's well-being is given high regard. As a result, they have built a stable, effective team with a determination to provide the best possible outcomes for pupils.

The school has carefully considered the important knowledge that pupils should learn.

High-quality training enables teachers to deliver the curriculum consistently. This curriculum is ambitious for pupils, including for those pupils with SEND.

In most cases, teachers check on what pupils have remembered carefully.

These checks identify gaps or misconceptions in pupils' knowledge effectively. However, occasionally checks are not yet robust enough. This means the school does not always have an accurate view of how well pupils learn in some subjects over time.

Reading sits at the heart of the school curriculum. High-quality delivery by teachers means pupils learn the skills which help them to really understand texts. Pupils read a wide range of genres which enrich their understanding of diversity, for example living with a disability.

Pupils who are at the early stages of reading receive highly effective support to learn phonics. This helps to build their confidence and to develop their fluency quickly.The school identifies the needs of pupils with SEND quickly and accurately.

A highly inclusive culture permeates the school. Pupils' support plans have appropriate and manageable targets. Specialist advice from professionals is understood by staff and helps them provide individualised support to help pupils progress.

Consequently, the achievement of pupils with SEND is improving.

Underpinned by the school's values, the expectations and routines for behaviour are clear. Pupils' behaviour is excellent in lessons and around school.

Pupils describe how the school's 'safe ports' help them manage their behaviour if they are having a 'tricky' day. They know the impact that their behaviour has on others. Pupils value their education.

Pupils' personal development is woven through school life. The school has crafted a curriculum and enrichment offer which gives pupils pride in where they live and opportunities to contribute to their community. At the same time, they learn about major issues in the world, such as the experiences of refugees.

This helps strengthen pupils' understanding of human rights and they are proud to be tolerant and inclusive. Pupils learn how to stay safe and the importance of healthy relationships. In addition, there is an extensive range of clubs, festivals and competitive sporting opportunities for all pupils.

The school has the best interests of pupils at the centre of everything it does. Parents and carers know and appreciate this. Trustees know what is working well and what they want to make even better.

They work in partnership with the leaders and staff to make decisions that improve the learning and experiences of all pupils. Staff are proud to work at the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Sometimes the checks and assessments used by staff are not refined and accurate enough. This means the school does not have a sufficiently clear picture of how securely pupils are learning the curriculum. The school needs to continue to ensure that assessment processes in all subjects are robust and accurate so that the curriculum can be adapted to meet the needs of pupils.

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