Landau Forte Academy, Amington

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud to attend Landau Forte Academy, Amington. Pupils embrace the school's values of being ambitious, brave and kind. Pupils have good manners.

Leaders greet students, when they arrive, with a 'good morning' and a smile. Pupils return this greeting. Pupils appreciate the time staff take to get to know them.

Leaders have high aspirations for every pupil. The principal has united the staff in a shared passion to ensure all pupils achieve their very best. Pupils benefit from a good-quality education.

They are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Pupils unanimously say that there are adults to help them if they are worried abo...ut anything, both academic and personal. Pupils appreciate the care and attention they receive from the school's pastoral team.

Most pupils feel safe in school. Pupils say that bullying does sometimes happen, but if it does, they know that adults will listen and take action.

All pupils say that behaviour has significantly improved since the last inspection.

Pupils usually behave well in and out of lessons. However, on the odd occasion when teachers do not insist on high enough standards of behaviour, learning can be affected.

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

The school's curriculum is broad and ambitious.

Key stage 4 pupils can choose to study a wide range of subjects. Leaders have put the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) at the heart of the curriculum. As a result, the proportion of pupils studying the EBacc subjects has increased and continues to do so.

Leaders have significantly strengthened the curriculum in all subjects. Leaders have a clear purpose for what pupils learn. Subjects are taught in a logical order that builds on what pupils have learned before.

Well-considered themes feed through the curriculum. For example, in English, pupils learn about how women are portrayed in crime fiction. This learning builds up through the story 'Lamb to the Slaughter' in Year 7, to 'Blood Brothers' in Year 9 and 'Macbeth' in Year 11.

However, in a minority of subjects, the curriculum does not yet have this level of detail. This means learning in these subjects is less secure.

Leaders have ensured there are consistent teaching approaches across the school.

Teachers use effective questioning to deepen pupils' knowledge and to check what pupils remember. All teachers have high expectations of pupils' spelling, punctuation and grammar use. Teachers have strong subject knowledge.

They revisit specific vocabulary and concepts regularly, so that pupils have a secure understanding of the subject.

There are well-planned opportunities for pupils to develop their literacy skills across the curriculum. Pupils who struggle with reading, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are helped to improve through targeted support.

Effective strategies support pupils' learning, such as breaking learning down into smaller chunks and pre-teaching key vocabulary. This supports all pupils to achieve well.

The personal, social and health education curriculum equips pupils to live life in modern Britain.

Pupils are taught about healthy relationships and personal safety. Pupils show respectful and tolerant attitudes.

Pupils who need additional support to manage behaviour speak positively about the pastoral support they receive.

One pupil said: 'The staff here don't give up on us. They want us to be here. They care about us.

We all have strong relationships with our teachers because they want us to do well.'

Pupils receive extensive careers education. Pupils are highly appreciative of the careers support and guidance they receive.

One pupil said, 'The ambition to get students into their chosen destination is remarkable.'

Leaders and governors manage staff's well-being and workload well. The school counsellor offers practical support to both staff and pupils.

Most parents recognise the recent positive changes in the school. However, leaders are aware that some parents do not hold this view. Work is continuing to improve the school's engagement with all families and with the community.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a strong culture of safeguarding in the school. Staff know the pupils and their families well.

They have a clear understanding of the local safeguarding risks that may affect pupils. Leaders work closely with the police and other agencies to teach students of the risks, for example, of knife crime.

All staff are well trained in identifying pupils who may be at risk of harm.

Staff know the procedures to follow if they have concerns. Staff work with individuals to identify the support pupils need and ensure they get this quickly.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a minority of subjects, leaders have not identified the precise building blocks of learning that lay the foundation for what is to come next.

This means that, in these subjects, some pupils find it more difficult to build the rich body of knowledge that they need to progress well. Subject leaders should ensure they continue to refine their subject curriculum to ensure it identifies what pupils need to learn to achieve well. The behaviour of pupils in the school has significantly improved.

However, in some lessons, learning can be disrupted when behaviour strategies are not implemented consistently. This means that pupils miss out on learning. Leaders should ensure that all staff are confident in implementing the school's behaviour policy effectively and consistently.