The Vale Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

The Vale Academy continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have created a welcoming, ambitious and supportive environment at The Vale Academy. Relationships between staff and pupils are built on positive foundations.

This is most obvious during 'proud Thursday', where pupils take pride in showcasing their best work to senior staff.

Pupils can engage in a wide range of activities outside of the classroom. They are enthusiastic and motivated by these enrichment opportunities.

Pupils in the design and technology (DT) club recently won a competition to design the sculpture that will sit in the Vulcan aircraft museum.

Sixth-...form students are fully involved in the life of the school. They are positive role models for other pupils.

They support younger pupils in their lessons and in other duties around school.

Behaviour is generally good. Leaders deal with incidents of bullying effectively.

Most pupils conduct themselves well, both in lessons and at other times during the school day. Pupils have a strong sense of being part of the school community. They appreciate the opportunities available to them.

As a result, pupils are well prepared for their next steps when they leave school.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

There is a broad and ambitious curriculum. Key stage 4 pupils can study a wide range of subjects.

Most pupils take history or geography at GCSE. The number of pupils taking a language at GCSE is increasing. All pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), have the same opportunities.

The sixth form offers a full range of A-level subjects, as leaders work in partnership with another local school.

Leaders have ensured that the curriculum is aspirational for all pupils. They respond quickly to aspects of the curriculum that need improvement.

For example, DT lessons for key stage 3 pupils have recently been extended. Pupils now experience more of the theory to support the practical side of the subject. Pupils, including those with SEND and students in the sixth form, are learning the curriculum for DT effectively.

Pupils with SEND receive effective support. Teachers listen carefully to pupils' answers in lessons to check what pupils know and understand. They show pupils examples of how to complete activities.

This supports pupils to understand and apply their learning and to achieve well.

Teachers make reading a priority across the curriculum. In geography, pupils read texts that also help them to develop their knowledge of politics and history.

Pupils enjoy following the 'reading route', which encourages them to read books from different genres. Pupils who need extra help receive effective adult support to rapidly improve their reading.

Leaders have implemented a behaviour system with an emphasis on reward.

Pupils respond well to this approach. Low-level disruption in lessons is rare. A minority of pupils are subject to sanctions, such as suspension.

Some of these pupils have repeat suspensions. Leaders are developing new strategies to work with these pupils, and their parents, to improve their behaviour.

Pupils experience a careers programme which prepares them well for the next steps in their education.

Sixth-form students are very well prepared for university applications and apprenticeships. Pupils in Year 9 have very good information to help them choose their GCSE options. However, leaders know that more could be done to give pupils wider experience of the world of work.

Leaders have yet to implement their plans to develop more employer engagement and work experience.

Pupils have many opportunities to take part in activities beyond the classroom. This includes a wide range of trips and educational visits, as well as opportunities in sport, music and drama.

Leaders encourage pupils to consider their character development through a series of 'pledges'. Pupils enjoy and benefit from this opportunity to engage in community activity, to join a club or take part in a residential visit.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff receive regular training to keep children safe. They understand the particular risks that pupils face in the local area. They know how to report concerns.

Leaders ensure that concerns are swiftly followed up. Procedures for recruiting staff to the school are secure. Leaders work effectively with a range of external agencies to provide extra support for pupils, when needed.

Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe. They learn about the importance of good health, well-being and safety in their tutor time, through assemblies and from visiting speakers.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Some pupils fail to behave according to the code of conduct.

This has led to an increase in suspensions. Leaders should continue to identify and implement effective strategies to support pupils so that they improve their behaviour. ? Pupils do not have enough opportunity to learn about the world of work.

They do not experience enough engagement with employers and workplaces to give them an idea of the range of careers available to them. Leaders should ensure that the school's careers offer prepares pupils effectively for the world of work.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good.

This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually, this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the second ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in March 2013.

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