Springwell Leeds Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have established a strong vision to promote pupils' well-being and achievement.

Staff live out this vision in their work with pupils. Pupils respond positively to staff. Pupils develop effective personal and social skills and achieve well.

They are prepared well for the next steps in their education and training. Leaders have demonstrated that they can bring about improvement. Behaviour systems help most pupils to manage their behaviour well.

Teaching and learning are increasingly effective, as the school has rapidly grown over the last three years. Leaders and governors check pupils' progress and personal development car...efully. They ensure that training improves teaching.

They ensure that the curriculum meets pupils' needs well. The curriculum is a growing strength of the school. It is individualised to meet the different needs of pupils.

Over time, a wider range of accredited courses is being offered to respond to the needs and aspirations of pupils. Leaders ensure that pupils' social, emotional and mental health needs are met through a well-considered range of approaches. Middle leaders in foundation subjects have not developed curriculum plans to the same high levels seen, for example, in English and mathematics.

Staff use their strong knowledge of pupils' needs to plan lessons that interest and engage them. Positive relationships motivate pupils. Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to plan learning precisely enough and to challenge pupils to deepen and reapply their learning.

Pupils conduct themselves well. They learn to manage their behaviours better over time. A diminishing proportion of pupils struggle to behave well.

Attendance is improving. However, some pupils do not attend well enough, despite the focused efforts of the school. Pupils learn how to keep safe.

They understand the harm that bullying causes. They feel safe in school and trust staff to help them. Careers guidance helps pupils make informed choices about their futures.

Pupils are well supported to move on to further education and training.

Information about this school

Springwell Academy provides day education for pupils aged five to 16. The school caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.

All pupils have an EHC plan. The school is part of the Wellspring Academy Trust. The board of trustees oversees the school, using the services of a local governing body.

Since opening in 2016, the school has grown quickly. It now incorporates four sites across Leeds City. One of the sites caters for pupils of primary school age.

Almost all pupils come from Leeds. The academy opened as a new school in 2016. A very high proportion of pupils come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

A very high proportion of pupils come from White British backgrounds. The school makes use of a small number of alternative providers of education. Currently, these are LS Ten and The Hunslet Club.

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