Holbrook Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Standards and achievement at Holbrook Academy have risen rapidly in recent years. Pupils make good progress and are served well by the academy. Academy leaders and governors are providing strong leadership and a clear vision for the academy.

Parents, pupils and staff are overwhelmingly supportive of the headteacher's high expectations and standards. The social, moral, spiritual and cultural development of pupils is nurtured very effectively through a wide range of activities and opportunities that all pupils have access to. Teaching succeeds in challenging and engaging pupils.

Teachers have very good subject knowledge that is used to crea...te interesting and stimulating lessons. Marking and feedback are regular and helpful. Pupils behave very well in lessons and enjoy a rich, stimulating range of subjects and activities.

The academy ensures their safety effectively; they feel cared for and listened to in the academy. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The attendance of some pupils is not yet as high as it should be, particularly that of disadvantaged pupils. Some teachers do not use assessment information closely enough to match the work they plan to pupils' particular needs.

Leaders do not always check how effective their actions have been in helping the academy to improve. Occasional incidents of antisocial behaviour outside of lessons have not yet been fully eradicated. The progress made by disadvantaged pupils is not yet consistently as good as that made by other pupils in the academy.

Information about this school

Holbrook Academy is a smaller than average 11–16 comprehensive academy serving an area of rural Suffolk outside Ipswich. The current headteacher has been in post since September 2013. The vast majority of pupils are White British, with a smaller proportion than average coming from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Very few pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils for whom the academy receives pupil premium funding (additional government funding to support pupils who are in the care of the local authority or who are known to be eligible for free school meals) is below average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is broadly average.

The academy does not use any alternative provision to educate their pupils. The academy occasionally supports pupils through the use of home tuition. The academy meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.