The Ramsey Academy, Halstead

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The new headteacher has an astute understanding of the academy's strengths and weaknesses. He has raised teachers' expectations of students' achievement and has improved the quality of teaching and students' behaviour.

All leaders and managers, including governors, have high ambitions for the students. They have made sure every student has the opportunity to achieve as well as they can. Inspection evidence indicates that students achieve well.

Students across year groups make good progress in a wide range of subjects, including English and mathematics. The academy's accurate tracking system, and the effective support it provides for indi...vidual students, have led to rapidly improving progress by disabled students and those who have special educational needs. Teaching is improving and is, for the most part, consistently good.

Additional adults are highly effective in supporting students' learning, both in lessons and in small groups. Behaviour around the academy is good. Students respect one another and adults.

They have a positive attitude towards their learning and are proud to be part of the academy. The academy provides a safe environment for students. Students say they feel very safe.

Governors rigorously monitor the work of the academy and hold senior and middle leaders to account. They are actively involved in steps to improve it further. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Marking is not always effective as not all teachers give students clear guidance on how to improve their work.

Teachers do not always employ the kinds of probing questions that would make students think really deeply about their learning and thereby make rapid progress. Sometimes progress is slower than it could be, particularly in mathematics. This is because the work set for students is too easy and lacks challenge.

This limits students' progress, including that of the most able.

Information about this school

The Ramsey Academy opened in September, 2013. It is sponsored by the North Essex Multi-Academy Trust (NEMAT).

The Ramsey Academy is smaller than the average-sized secondary school. The proportion of disadvantaged students eligible for support through the pupil premium is below average. The pupil premium is additional funding for those students who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority.

Most students are White British. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs is average. At the time of the inspection, the academy offered alternative educational provision for six students in Year 11, who attend The College at Braintree for one day a week.

The students study one of the following courses: City and Guilds in construction skills, City and Guilds introduction to hair and beauty skills and the Institute of the Motor Industry award in vehicle maintenance. The academy meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress. In 2014 a small number of students were entered for two different GCSE mathematics courses.

The current headteacher took up post in September, 2014. The academy trust provides support for the academy via an executive headteacher who supports and evaluates the work of senior leaders. Governors of the academy work in partnership with the board of trustees and two are members of this board.

Also at this postcode