Bluecoat Beechdale Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The principal has been very successful in improving the quality of education that the school provides since his arrival in September, 2015. The executive principal has provided very effective support to the school. Governors have an accurate and well-informed view of the school's strengths and weaknesses.

The school's plans for improvements tackle the right issues. Leaders and governors are passionate about ensuring that pupils receive the best possible standard of education. They give high priority to ensuring that pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities get the opportunities that they should.

Middle leaders play a ...key role in ensuring that pupils make good progress. Previously underachieving groups, such as middle-ability students, are now catching up with others. In mathematics and geography, progress is less consistent than in other subjects.

Leaders have created an engaging curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils. Pupils and parents value the wide range of extra-curricular opportunities. These give pupils the chance to try things that they might not otherwise experience.

Leaders make sure that teachers receive high-quality support and training. This has helped to improve the quality of teaching. Teachers have strong subject knowledge.

Effective explanations and skilful questioning promote good learning. Very occasionally, however, work set is too easy or too hard. When this happens, a few pupils can lose concentration and disrupt the learning of others.

The school is particularly effective in supporting pupils whose circumstances make them potentially vulnerable. All adults in the school work as a team to ensure the well-being of pupils at risk of harm. Staff set high standards for pupils' conduct.

This has led to improvement in pupils' behaviour. However, a minority still need to be reminded of the school's rules. Pupils are very friendly and welcoming to visitors.

Pupils' attendance has improved and is now close to the national average. However, the attendance of some groups of pupils has not improved as rapidly as the attendance of others.

Information about this school

Bluecoat Beechdale is a smaller than the averaged-sized secondary school.

The number of pupils on roll is rising rapidly. The school is part of the Bluecoat Multi-Academy Trust. The school receives support from Bluecoat Academy and this has supported a wide range of improvements in teaching, learning, pupils' progress and the use of resources.

The majority of pupils are White British, although pupils from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds attend the school. The school has above the national average proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium funding is high.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is high. The proportion of pupils who have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is below average. A small group of pupils from the school attend the Bluecoat Multi-Academy Trust unit, Aspire, for part of their education.

In 2015, the school did not meet the current government's floor standards, which set out the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of key stage 4. The school does not comply with Department for Education guidance on what academies should publish on their websites about pupils' examination results. The school does not meet the requirements on the publication of information about pupils' examination results.