Charles Read Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Determined and effective leadership by the principal has brought about considerable improvements to the school since the previous inspection. The quality of leadership across the school is much improved. Subject leaders play a key role in checking the quality of teaching in their subject areas and in ensuring that pupils are achieving as well as they should.

Effective action has been taken to eradicate the weakest teaching. Talented staff have been recruited. These changes, together with good-quality training provided for staff, have ensured that the quality of teaching is now good.

Pupils' achievement has improved since the last inspecti...on, especially in English, mathematics and science. Pupils made good progress in these subjects last year. Middle-attaining pupils did particularly well.

Some pupils made excellent progress. Leaders are securing rapid improvements in the small minority of subjects where achievement has not been as strong. Parents' increased confidence in the school is reflected in the rising number of pupils on roll.

All the available places in Year 7 have been filled for the last two years. Pupils' behaviour is good and often exemplary. The school's arrangements to safeguard pupils are strong.

Pupils feel safe and know how to stay safe. Staff work very effectively to support pupils who join the school part-way through their secondary education and particularly the pupils who join the school in need of a fresh start. The quality of leadership is enhanced by a dedicated and effective governing body, which has grown in its effectiveness since the last inspection.

The school has benefited very significantly from support from a sponsor trust. The trust has made a strong contribution to improving the school's facilities, strengthening its leadership and improving the quality of teaching. A smaller range of subjects is offered than in larger secondary schools but leaders ensure that the curriculum is well balanced.

It is enhanced by excellent provision for enrichment. In the last two years, pupils' attendance has dipped. It is now improving but the proportion of pupils who are persistently absent remains higher than seen nationally.

The school's provision for pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is good. Recent changes to staffing mean that leaders do not currently have as clear an understanding as they should of how well these pupils are doing across the curriculum. Despite the improvements, teaching does not always challenge pupils to think deeply and achieve as well as they can.

Information about this school

The school does not meet requirements on the publication of information about the curriculum on its website. The school does not comply with Department for Education guidance on what academies should publish about the curriculum on its website. Information is not provided about the curriculum content in each subject for each year group.

Charles Read Academy is a very small secondary school. It is sponsored by the David Ross Education Trust. Most students are from White British backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils who join the school other than at the start of the school year is much higher than average. Around one quarter of pupils currently at the school began their secondary education elsewhere. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is higher than average, though it has reduced since the previous inspection.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is higher than average at 41% and has risen since the last inspection. The school does not use any alternative providers of education. The school meets the government's floor standards, which set minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.