River Dart Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy attending River Dart Academy. Many arrive at school with negative experiences of education. Here, pupils feel safe, listened to and respected.

Pupils highly appreciate the personalised support they receive. One pupil summed up the views of many, saying the school is a 'safe place for a fresh start'. Parents and carers spoken with agree.

They rightly know the school 'does not give up' on children. Communication between the school and parents is strong.

The school has high expectations of what pupils can achieve personally and academically.

Pupil aspirations form a vital part of the school's provision. Staff are adamant that pupils will su...cceed. They tailor the curriculum expertly to support individual needs.

This allows pupils to engage in learning with increasing confidence.

Pupils behave with respect and consideration. They quickly learn how to interact positively with their school community.

Pupils know that their peers can struggle with behaviour. When behaviour deteriorates, staff manage it sensitively.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) thrive.

The school provides carefully thought-out support for pupils' learning and emotional needs. Staff develop positive relationships with pupils and offer strong pastoral support, enabling pupils to be ready to learn.

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

The school places pupils at the centre of everything it does.

The school's vision of enabling pupils to 'achieve within an environment where everyone can flourish' is demonstrated in its inclusive culture. Staff treat pupils fairly and equally. The school has clear and swift processes in place to identify individual needs for pupils with SEND.

These enable the school to provide bespoke support and adaptations to the curriculum. The school regularly checks the impact of this work to assure itself it is making a difference.

Reading lies at the heart of the curriculum.

It is prioritised across all subjects. A daily focus on reading supports pupils to develop reading fluency and comprehension skills. Staff choose texts carefully to spark pupils' interest and to develop positive attitudes towards reading.

They provide effective personalised support for pupils who require extra practice.

The school's core curriculum, which includes English, mathematics, science, art and personal, social and health education, sets out clearly what pupils need to know and remember. Staff have strong subject knowledge.

They adapt learning to help pupils build on their prior knowledge and understanding. For example, in mathematics, staff deepen pupils' knowledge through careful and probing questioning. Adults check pupils' prior understanding, for example when solving algebraic problems.

However, in a minority of wider curriculum subjects, the school's work to implement an effective curriculum is at the early stages. Where this is the case, pupils do not gain the depth of knowledge leaders intend.The school is a calm and purposeful place in which to learn.

Each day gets off to a positive start. Staff greet pupils as they arrive. This welcoming start builds positive relationships and enables checks on pupils' well-being.

Pupils engage well, both in learning and social times. The school tracks patterns of behaviour carefully and provides appropriate support to manage any concerns that may arise.

The school understands the importance of pupils attending regularly.

It has a relentless thirst for ensuring pupils' attendance consistently improves. Staff unpick any barriers to attendance. The school works with parents to bring about improvements when pupils' attendance is less regular.

The personal development of pupils is a strength that threads though the curriculum. The school is rightly proud of its programme of enrichment and work placement opportunities. Pupils have access to a wealth of different experiences beyond the academic within the locality, such as visits and trips to a range of religious buildings and local businesses.

Staff provide pupils with relevant and unbiased careers guidance. The school thinks creatively about post-16 opportunities, taking pupils' aspirations into account. Pupils have a secure understanding of difference and tolerance within their community and beyond.

The curriculum supports their understanding of equality and diversity.

Trust and governance leaders know the school well. They ensure continuous challenge and rigour alongside positive guidance and support.

This enables the school to continually reflect on its practice and adapt to the ever-changing cohorts within its setting. Staff are highly positive about the support they receive, both personally and professionally.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The school's work to implement additional subjects beyond the core curriculum is relatively recent. As a result, pupils do not acquire the depth of knowledge in these subjects that the school would like them to. The school and trust should ensure that staff are supported to implement and adapt all subjects effectively, so that pupils deepen their knowledge and skills across the curriculum.