Kettering Science Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils know that staff at this school have high expectations of them.

Pupils describe how the school tries to develop all pupils to be the best that they can be.

Older pupils describe how the school has got much better over time. All pupils now receive a much better quality of education.

Students in the sixth form hold wholly positive views of the education they receive. Leaders, with the help of the trust, have transformed this school.

Pupils conduct themselves well in and around school.

The curriculum for behaviour, more commonly known as 'the KSA way', helps pupils to develop better behaviour, as well as their strength of character. Pupil...s say that there are occasional instances of poor behaviour, but these are quickly dealt with by staff.

Pupils know what bullying is.

Anti-bullying ambassadors and trusted staff are available for all pupils to report any concerns they might have. Most pupils say that the school does not tolerate bullying.

Pupils benefit from a range of after-school extra-curricular activities in the 'co-curriculum'.

More recently, pupils engaged with a range of employers during the 'world of work' days. This is another way that the school helps to build pupils' aspirations.

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

The curriculum at this school has been reshaped.

Leaders, including those from the trust, have ensured that the curriculum is broad and ambitious for all pupils. Leaders have taken the decision to implement a knowledge-rich curriculum. Subject leaders have identified the core content that pupils must know and remember.

They have ensured that the curriculum is progressive. This means that pupils build on what they know. The connections they make help them to remember.

Most teachers have expert subject knowledge. Leaders have prioritised teacher training so that teachers use effective methods to help pupils know more. For example, teachers use visualisers to model and present information clearly.

Most teachers use questioning well to deepen pupils' understanding. This helps pupils learn well. However, there are occasions when activities are not well matched to the intended learning.

When this is the case, some pupils become off-task and do not learn as well as they should.

Leaders expertly monitor the quality of education to make sure that teachers deliver the curriculum effectively. They have ensured that there is consistency in teaching, which helps pupils to develop knowledge across many subjects.

There are still occasions when teachers do not use assessment purposefully enough. The feedback they give is not always precise enough to help all pupils improve further.Leaders are ambitious for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Leaders identify the needs of pupils and ensure that they put into place strategies that will help pupils with SEND achieve. Teachers adapt their teaching skilfully so that pupils with SEND undertake the same learning as others.

Pupils at the earlier stages of reading benefit from interventions from an expert team of reading and literacy teachers.

The school has invested in an age-appropriate phonics curriculum. This helps pupils to become better readers quickly, enabling them to access the full curriculum.

Students in the sixth form are well supported by subject experts.

They receive an ambitious curriculum, and outcomes for these students are improving. They achieve the qualifications they need for their next steps. Students have high rates of attendance.

They are proud to attend the sixth form. One student summed up the views of many when he said, 'The sixth form is like a family. I would not want to attend anywhere else.'



Teachers develop pupils in the widest sense. Pupils learn about different types of families, the protected characteristics and British values. They have an age-appropriate understanding of relationships education.

The curriculum teaches pupils how to stay safe. For example, in Year 8, pupils have learned about the dangers of knife crime.

Teachers use the '3Rs' (remind, reinforce and remove) to minimise classroom disruption.

These rules are consistently and fairly applied most of the time. This ensures a calm and orderly learning environment, where pupils can learn.

Some parents and carers have negative views of the school.

Leaders have not engaged and communicated effectively enough to share the good work the school does in supporting all pupils.

Trustees, governors and leaders work in partnership. Decisions made at the highest level have helped to improve the school.

Leaders accurately monitor and evaluate the school's work to develop it further. They ensure that they consider staff's workload and well-being before they implement change.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff are vigilant and highly trained to recognise the signs that a pupil might be at risk. Leaders ensure that all staff know about local and national safeguarding issues that might affect pupils at this school. Staff use their knowledge and training to record and report any concerns quickly to the safegaurding team.

Leaders triage any concerns and take swift action to keep pupils safe. They have detailed records of concerns and actions they have taken to keep pupils safe. Leaders work with external agencies to ensure that pupils get the help they need.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Teachers do not consistently use assessment purposefully enough. Sometimes, the feedback pupils receive after an assessment is not precise enough to help them improve further. Leaders should ensure that assessment and feedback help pupils to embed knowledge further.

• On occasion, teachers do not match activities closely enough to the intended learning. Pupils lose focus and become off-task. They do not learn as well as they could.

Leaders should ensure that all teachers match activities closely to the intended learning. ? A minority of parents have negative views about the school. Leaders must ensure that they engage with all stakeholders and communicate more effectively about the positive work that the school is doing to support and educate its pupils.

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