Granville Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school has an unwavering ambition for pupils.

Staff have high expectations of pupils, and success is celebrated. The rich and broad curriculum prepares pupils effectively for life beyond school. Pupils achieve well at Granville Academy.

The school's values of 'work hard, be kind and choose wisely' are well known by all. There are positive relationships between staff and pupils. This helps pupils to feel safe and happy at school.

Pupils know they can talk to staff about any concerns they may have. The vast majority of pupils behave well in lessons and around school. Pupils say that bullying rarely happens, and staff address it quickly if it occurs.
.../>The result is a warm and welcoming environment where pupils enjoy their lessons and do their best.

Pupils prosper from a wide range of opportunities outside the curriculum, including residential trips to France, Kenya and Madrid. The school offers many extra-curricular clubs to develop pupils' talents and interests.

They can learn to play a musical instrument and take part in school performances. There are many leadership opportunities, for example as a well-being ambassador who supports other pupils.

Many parents and carers are positive about their children's experiences at the school and appreciate how the school has improved.

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

The school, with the support of the trust, has made significant improvements to the curriculum. Pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), follow a broad and ambitious curriculum. The proportion of pupils studying the English Baccalaureate suite of subjects is increasing.

Pupils benefit from the positive changes the school has made to the quality of education it provides. As a result of these improvements, pupils achieve increasingly well across a range of subjects.

Teachers are well trained.

They have strong subject knowledge in the subjects that they teach. The school has identified effective strategies that teachers use to deliver the curriculum. Most teachers ensure that pupils often revisit the most important content in each subject.

Teachers use questioning well to check pupils' understanding, challenge thinking and resolve misconceptions. Pupils value the 'do now' retrieval activities that start lessons. They say it helps them to remember.

The school promotes a love of reading. Pupils who are in the early stages of learning to read are identified quickly. Trained staff provide effective support that helps these pupils catch up.

Occasionally, the curriculum is not implemented well enough. Teachers sometimes do not match the work they set closely enough to pupils' abilities and prior knowledge. When this happens, some pupils find the work too easy, and they do not achieve as well as they should.

Pupils with SEND are well supported by the school. Staff understand the needs of these pupils well. The school provides these pupils with the additional support they need to access its ambitious curriculum.

Pupils with SEND achieve well.

The school has raised its expectations of pupils' behaviour. Behaviour management systems are applied consistently by staff and are clearly understood by pupils.

As a result, behaviour in lessons is calm and purposeful. The school's successful work with families has secured improvements in attendance for many pupils. However, a small number of pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils, miss too much learning due to poor behaviour or absence from school.

These pupils miss out on important learning and are left with gaps in their knowledge.

The provision to support pupils' personal development is comprehensive. Through both 'values' lessons and assemblies, pupils become well informed about life in modern Britain.

For example, they learn how to respect others who are different to themselves. All pupils have signed the school pledge that focuses on the need to treat people equally.

Pupils benefit from effective careers education and guidance.

Events such as careers fairs provide pupils and their parents with detailed information about the opportunities available. The school's strong work in this area has resulted in a significant increase in the number of pupils progressing to appropriate education and training when they leave school.

Staff are proud to work at the Granville Academy.

Leaders take care to ensure that staff workload and well-being are a high priority so staff can focus on delivering high-quality education to pupils. Trustees and members of the local governing body have a good understanding of the school and the local community. The trust executive team provides an appropriate level of challenge and support.

There is a collective will to succeed and a determination that the school continues to improve.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The implementation of the curriculum is occasionally inconsistent.

In some subjects, pupils are sometimes given work that is too easy for them. This means pupils do not always learn new knowledge in as much detail as they can. The school needs to ensure that the ambitious curriculum is delivered consistently well to all pupils in each subject.

• A few pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, miss lessons too frequently due to their poor behaviour or poor attendance. These pupils miss out on important learning and wider experiences. The school should build on its current work to improve the attendance and behaviour of these pupils so that they consistently access the high-quality education the school provides.

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