Rushcliffe Spencer Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Students receive an excellent education, both academically and in their personal development. This prepares them exceptionally well for the next stage of their education or for employment.

Standards are significantly above average by the end of Year 11 in most subjects, including in English and mathematics. The sixth form is outstanding. Students achieve highly and reach above-average standards because teaching is high quality and the courses and study programmes meet the students' needs and aspirations well.

Students of all abilities and groups, including those eligible for pupil premium funding, disabled students and those who ...have special educational needs, make outstanding progress throughout the school. Consistently good or outstanding teaching promotes students' excellent attitudes to learning, as does the well judged range of activities matched to their interests and attainment. Although some marking of students' work is excellent, this is not consistent across all classes and subjects.

Students are very proud of their school and the many opportunities it gives them in and out of lessons. The school provides a safe, supportive environment in which students thrive. Students behave very well in lessons and round the school, displaying very mature attitudes to learning.

Students' attendance is well-above average. Leaders and managers have ensured excellent teaching and achievement. The executive headteacher provides very effective leadership.

He is supported well by other leaders, many of who are very effective. However, not all leaders are entirely systematic in checking different aspects of teaching and progress as thoroughly and are not held sufficiently to account for this. The governing body's excellent knowledge of the school, including the quality of teaching and students' achievement, and governors' tenacity in questioning its work, are significant factors in the school's success.

Information about this school

Rushcliffe School is larger than the average-sized secondary school. It converted to become an academy in August 2012. Its predecessor school, of the same name, was judged good at its last inspection in 2009.

Most students are of White British heritage. The proportion of students who speak English as an additional language is well below the national average. The proportion of students known to be entitled to support through the pupil premium (additional government funding for children who are looked after by the local authority, those from armed services families and students known to be eligible for free school meals) is well below the national average.

The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs who are supported at school action is below average. The proportion of students supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is well-below average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress.

It uses alternative places for a very few students to learn away from school and presently there is only one student on such a programme. The school is led by an executive headteacher, and by a head of school who oversees its day-to-day running. The school is supporting another local secondary school, which is in challenging circumstances.

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