The Highcrest Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school School leaders, with appropriate support and challenge from governors, have high expectations of all pupils and staff at Highcrest. They have focused relentlessly on improving the quality of teaching and learning, with much success. The school has retained a culture in which individual pupils are well cared for and their progress closely monitored.

Initiatives, such as the introduction of academic mentors, are helping to raise pupils' aspirations and achievements even further. Pupils make good progress in most subjects through all year groups. Standards have risen at the end of Key Stage 4 and in the sixth form.

Disadvantaged pupils and t...hose who have special educational needs or disability receive a range of well-targeted support that helps them to achieve well. Provision for pupils who speak English as an additional language is very effective and ensures that they make rapid progress. Teaching, learning and assessment are at least good in most subjects.

There is a high level of consistency in the way that teachers plan lessons and provide pupils with feedback. There is a strong and effective focus on improving pupils' literacy skills across all year groups. Pupils' personal development and understanding of British values are catered for very effectively through subjects, assemblies and a range of visits, visitors and clubs.

The quality of provision in the sixth form has improved significantly since the last inspection. It is well led and teaching and outcomes are now good. Pupils have a positive attitude to learning and behave well in classrooms and around the school.

They say that they feel safe. Safeguarding is managed very effectively by the school's leaders and staff. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils do not make as much progress in modern foreign languages as they do in other subjects in Key Stages 3 and 4.

Not all subject leaders are as effective as the best. Attendance, although improving, is still below the national average.

Information about this school

Highcrest Academy is a smaller-than-average sized secondary school in a local authority that operates selection, with several grammar schools in the local area.

The school introduced a banding admissions system in 2013. Pupils are now tested prior to admission, with roughly equal numbers in four ability bands. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is well above average.

The pupil premium is additional government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals or who are looked after by the local authority. The majority of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds, the largest group being of Asian British heritage. Forty percent of pupils are from White British backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is well above average. A small number are at an early stage of English language acquisition. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is well above average.

A number of Key Stage 4 pupils attend alternative vocational provision on Fridays provided by the Blueprint Learning Centre and Aylesbury Youth Motor Project. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The Principal is a national leader of education.