The Cotswold Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The headteacher has high expectations and aspirations for the academy.

Through his dedication and drive he has inspired outstanding leadership at all levels. Governors use their considerable knowledge and experience to very effectively challenge senior leaders to maintain and improve all aspects of the academy's work. Teaching is outstanding.

Teachers have high expectations of all students, regardless of their ability. They plan lessons that engage and challenge students, and use questioning to deepen understanding, so that students achieve at the highest level. Achievement is outstanding.

At GCSE, the proportion of stud...ents gaining five A* to C grades, including English and mathematics, is well above the national average. The proportion of students gaining the higher grades of A* and A, across a number of subjects, is well above average. Disadvantaged students make rapid progress because of the very effective additional support they receive.

Disabled students and those who have special educational needs make excellent progress because of the individual and well-planned help they are given. The most-able students make outstanding progress because they are provided with additional, challenging activities in lessons and for homework, which considerably extend their learning. Students' behaviour is exemplary.

They show high levels of respect for staff and each other. Their attitudes to learning are excellent, which contributes greatly to their outstanding progress. Provision for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is exceptionally strong through a wide and varied range of subjects, many after-school clubs and educational visits, and a well-planned personal and social development programme.

Students are well prepared for life in modern Britain. Students are extremely proud of the academy. They say they enjoy lessons, feel very safe and well cared for, and value the very positive relationships that they have with their teachers and each other.

The academy's work to keep them safe is outstanding. The sixth form is outstanding. Students respond well to excellent teaching and pastoral support and make outstanding progress.

The academy's strong partnerships with universities, colleges of further education and industry provide students with excellent opportunities to pursue careers of their choice. Well-qualified teaching assistants play an effective part in students' learning in most lessons. However, there are a few occasions when their expertise is not used fully, and they are not always clear about their role in supporting students.

Information about this school

The Cotswold Academy converted to become an academy school on 6 September 2010. When its predecessor school, The Cotswold School, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be outstanding. The academy is a larger than the average-sized secondary school.

Most students are from White British backgrounds with a very small minority from different ethnic groups. Very few students speak English as an additional language. The proportion of disadvantaged students supported by the pupil premium is well below the national average.

This is additional government funding for students who are known to be eligible for free school meals or who are looked after by the local authority. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs is well below average. The school receives a small amount of Year 7 catch-up funding to help eligible students improve their literacy and numeracy skills.

Seven Key Stage 4 students receive part of their education away from the academy site. These students are following work-related courses at Tewkesbury Launchpad and Chipping Campden School. The academy meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 11.