The Academy, Selsey

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher and his senior team provide steady and determined leadership. This is recognised by parents, staff and pupils, who strongly support the school. Leaders and governors have created a welcoming and positive culture that permeates all aspects of the school's life.

As a result, pupils thrive and standards are rising. Leaders' actions have secured a rapid rise in pupils' outcomes in a wide range of subjects. However, the progress of disadvantaged pupils is still too slow.

The curriculum is well-suited to pupils' needs. It is balanced and supports their next steps very well. Resolute actions taken by leaders have significantly im...proved the quality of teaching in a range of subjects since the last inspection.

Teachers know and support all their pupils very well. Consequently, pupils are more resilient and have the confidence to learn from their mistakes. School leaders have worked diligently to ensure a safe and successful move to the school's new buildings.

Leaders maintain strong standards of behaviour and conduct. Pupils respond accordingly and conduct themselves well in a variety of settings. Parents and carers, staff and pupils strongly support the school.

They are proud of what has been achieved and would recommend it to others. There is a strong culture of safeguarding in the school. Pupils feel safe and are encouraged to be themselves.

Leaders have enthusiastically introduced a series of improvements. However, there is insufficient precision in measuring which plans have had the greatest impact. Governors are passionate, experienced and fully committed to the school.

They work closely with leaders to target additional funds appropriately. However, they need to evaluate more carefully which strategies have given the best value for money.

Information about this school

The Academy, Selsey is a much smaller than average-sized mixed comprehensive school.

The school has been an academy within The Kemnal Academies Trust since 2011. There is a local governing body that is accountable to the board of trustees. The school roll has a population that is mostly White British.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds or who speak English as an additional language is much lower than the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average. There is a higher-than-average proportion of disadvantaged pupils.

The current headteacher and the chair of governors both took up their posts in 2016. The previous school buildings were destroyed in a fire in 2016. The school moved into new buildings in April 2019, after two-and-a-half years in temporary accommodation.

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