The Eastwood Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The principal's clear, unwavering vision focuses on supporting pupils' high achievement across a wide range of pursuits. Staff implement the vision very well. As a result, pupils receive an outstanding education.

Leaders at all levels are very skilled. They know what they do well, but they concentrate their energies on what they could still do better. Consequently, the capacity of leaders to continue to improve the school is high.

Pupils make significant progress as they move through the school. They join the school with levels of attainment that are broadly average. By the time that they leave, their attainment is high and their ...progress is well above average.

Leaders ensure that pupils are well looked after and that they are kept safe. Pupils are very happy to attend the school. The quality of teaching is outstanding.

Teachers' subject knowledge is very strong, they question pupils effectively and they plan activities that are suitably challenging. Leaders and governors ensure that the school's curriculum is a key strength. Pupils have access to a very effective range of curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Pupils' behaviour is excellent. They are supportive of each other and they develop very strong working relationships with their teachers. Pupils' attitudes to learning are a key strength of the school.

Pupils play an important part in leading improvements in the school. Younger pupils aspire to take on roles of responsibility. Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are very well supported.

Leaders use the additional funding for these pupils very effectively, and this ensures that they make strong progress. Governors have a clear and accurate view of the school's strengths. They provide leaders with effective support and challenge, which ensures that the school continues to improve.

Since the previous inspection, leaders' actions have improved pupils' progress in modern foreign languages. However, their plans need to be developed further so that pupils make similar progress to that made in other subjects. Parents and carers are very positive about the school.

However, some of them say that they do not receive helpful information about their children's progress.

Information about this school

The Eastwood Academy is the lead school in the Eastwood Park Academy Trust (EPAT). Responsibility for the school's performance lies with the EPAT trust board.

There is representation from the trust board on the school's local governing body. There is currently one other school in the trust. The school is an average-sized secondary school.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium or who speak English as an additional language is average. The proportion of pupils who receive SEN support or who have an education, health and care plan is below average. Pupils who are educated off-site attend either the YMCA or Figure of Eight Education.