Outwood Academy Carlton

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Well supported by governors and the trust, leaders have systematically improved the school. Leaders at all levels are resolute in their belief that pupils are entitled to the highest quality of education and this is reflected in their actions.

Capacity for improvement in the future is strong. Staff morale is high. A well-considered programme of professional development ensures that staff continuously improve their skills and knowledge.

Teachers generally have high aspirations for their pupils. Classrooms are typically characterised by a purposeful atmosphere where most pupils work hard. Most pupils make good progress across a wide range o...f subjects and year groups.

Occasionally, the work set by teachers is not well matched to pupils' needs. Where this is the case, pupils' progress is more variable. The support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who attend the resourced provision for communication and interaction, is effective.

The curriculum is suitably broad and balanced. It provides opportunities for pupils of all abilities to be successful and to move on to aspirational next steps. Pupils' personal development and welfare is good.

They are well prepared for life in modern Britain through a curriculum which teaches them how to keep safe and which instils the importance of respect for others. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Pupils feel safe at school.

Some pupils' behaviour requires further improvement. Over time, the rate of fixed-term exclusions has been very high. Leaders have acted to bring about a notable reduction in the use of exclusions, but the proportion of pupils excluded from school or removed from the classroom for poor behaviour remains too high.

Despite the determined and focused actions of leaders, rates of absence and persistent absence for some pupils remain too high.

Information about this school

The school joined the Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) in February 2016. Responsibility for governance of the school rests with the board of trustees.

There is a local academy council which operates jointly with a neighbouring OGAT school. The academy council has some delegated authority. The school hosts a resourced provision for 25 pupils with communication and interaction difficulties, principally autism.

The proportion of pupils with an education, health and care plan is above the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND who are in receipt of support is below the national average. The majority of pupils are White British.

The remaining pupils are from a wide range of ethnic groups. The proportion of pupils who receive support from the pupil premium funding is above the national average. The school makes use of several providers of alternative education: Action to Change, Barnsley College, Focus Training and Academy 21.