Gloucester Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an inadequate school Leaders have failed to improve the standard of education since the previous inspection.

The support offered by the multi-academy trust has failed to make an impact until recent months. Too often teaching is weak and poorly matched to the needs of pupils. Leaders, including middle leaders, are not effectively holding teachers to account for weak outcomes.

Teachers' expectations are too low. As a result, pupils are making poor progress, especially at key stage 4. Leaders' plans to improve the progress of disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities have had little impact.

Pupils...' basic literacy and numeracy skills are weak in English and mathematics and across the wider curriculum. The most able pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, are not stretched and challenged in their work and are making the least progress of all groups in the school. Attendance of pupils is too low, especially of the most vulnerable pupils.

Safeguarding is not effective. Leaders have failed to follow the correct procedures for ensuring the safety of pupils on a regular basis. Too few sixth-form students are provided with work experience opportunities.

Too many pupils display persistent poor behaviour. This disrupts learning for other pupils. Leaders have not promoted pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development effectively.

Too many pupils are not aware of fundamental British values. As a result, pupils are not prepared well for life in modern Britain. The school has the following strengths Pupils learn well in humanities and are making better progress than in other subjects.

Support from trust leaders has been more effective in recent months.

Information about this school

The school meets the Department for Education's definition of a coasting school based on Key Stage 4 academic performance results in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Gloucester Academy is part of the White Horse Federation multi-academy trust.

The school became an academy in September 2010 and moved to its new buildings in September 2013. Gloucester Academy is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium funding is above the national average.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the proportion who have an education, health and care plan, are both above the national average. The school does not meet the current government floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress at key stage 4. The outcomes in the sixth form are above the national threshold.