Highfield Ely Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The headteacher provides outstanding leadership and there has been significant improvement in teaching and pupils' achievement since the previous inspection.

Other leaders and managers make a good contribution to school improvement. The governing body is now closely involved in the school's work. Teaching is good, with an increasing amount that is outstanding.

The teaching of English and mathematics is strong throughout the school. Most pupils make at least the amount of progress that is expected nationally and there has been an increase in the proportion who make outstanding progress. More-able pupils do exceptionally well.

Beh...aviour and safety are outstanding. Pupils enjoy learning and apply themselves exceptionally well. They feel very safe in school and their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent.

The school has very effective systems for assessing pupils' needs. It uses the resulting information carefully to match learning opportunities to the next steps in their development. Partnership with parents and other agencies is excellent.

Those parents who expressed their views about the school are delighted with the way it meets their children's needs. The early years is outstanding and gives children a very positive start. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The teaching of pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties is not as good as teaching in the rest of the school.

The school does not have a teacher with specialist knowledge of profound and multiple learning difficulties to lead this aspect of its work. The sixth form is good. Although learning opportunities for students in the sixth form have improved, they are not yet outstanding.

The school does not link learning in the sixth form closely enough to real life and the world of work.

Information about this school

This is a school for pupils with moderate, severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorders, and behavioural, social and emotional difficulties. An increasing number of pupils in the younger classes have complex needs.

Pupils all have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is broadly average at just over a quarter. (This is government funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals or looked after by the local authority).

The school provides an outreach service to local mainstream schools for pupils with learning difficulties. A teacher spends on average one day a week providing this service. Some students at Key Stage 4 and in the sixth form spend part of their time in Ely College and Cambridge Regional College.

Younger pupils spend time on occasion in The Lantern Community Primary School. The school is working with the local authority to develop its accommodation. In September 2015, it is due to have a substantial extension to its building ready for use.

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