Titan Aston Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils flourish and feel safe in this warm, welcoming school. Staff strive and succeed in putting pupils back on the path to engaging with education. Pupils' additional needs, including special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are identified and assessed well.

For example, some pupils receive highly bespoke support to prepare them for learning in the classroom. Pupils go on to positive next steps in their education or training.

The school has very high expectations of pupils' behaviour.

Pupils rise to meet these. They actively contribute to the open and respectful culture that exists throughout. This is despite the past disruption that almost all... pupils have experienced in their education.

Pupils establish and enjoy a strong rapport with staff. They display positive attitudes to their learning in all aspects of the curriculum.

Pupils benefit from a range of opportunities, which broaden their horizons and encourage them to think about what they could do in the future.

For example, pupils are helped to consider a wide range of careers, including apprenticeships. Pupils' talents and interests are nurtured well. The school acts to address barriers that may prevent pupils from participating.

For example, pupils receive support to continue engaging with particular sports outside of school.

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

The school has put in place an ambitious curriculum that is highly academic as well as flexible. Leaders ensure that making things better for pupils is the key focus.

Any issues with reading, gaps in knowledge or additional needs are picked up. Where possible, these are addressed by staff rapidly during the first weeks of being in school.

Pupils settle very well into school life.

Staff are ambitious for pupils, and reading features strongly throughout their learning experience. Teachers help them build towards high-quality qualifications such as GCSEs, in which they do well. Pupils can successfully connect different elements of their learning.

Where pupils are not able to confidently recall knowledge, teachers often adapt quickly and address misconceptions well. However, in some subjects, the support for pupils, particularly those with SEND, is not always effective, which can slow their progress through the curriculum.

The school has rightly placed a high priority on teaching pupils to be safe.

The carefully constructed personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum reflects this while responding to needs as they arise. Staff have a strong shared understanding that prevention is better than cure when it comes to pupils' safety. The school's effective communication means they can help pupils in a timely and appropriate manner.

The school's careers provision is a strength. Staff support pupils to engage with relevant information and make their own best next step.

Pupils' behaviour is exceptional.

The school has put in place clear boundaries and ensures that staff stick to these consistently. Pupils take on the high standards modelled for them.They know they are cared for and appreciate the strong, trusting relationships they have with staff.

Pupils receive help to grow in their understanding of themselves. For example, some pupils have mentoring support to help them express and process their thoughts and feelings. Over time, pupils become strong, respectful members of the school community who care for each other and appreciate their differences.

Attendance is an integral part of the school's work. Many pupils' attendance improves throughout their time in the school, often from a very low starting point. Staff engage all relevant stakeholders to move things forward where attendance is low.

Pupils are re-engaged as quickly as possible with staff and their learning. The school does all it can to get pupils into school on time, despite the distances travelled by many of them.

Trustees have a robust oversight of the school.

They work effectively with leaders to secure and sustain change. Staff have a strong sense of team. They work together effectively to help pupils make the most of their time.

Staff appreciate the great depth and range of support they receive from leaders. This includes workload and in relation to personal matters.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, the curriculum is not sufficiently well adapted to allow all pupils to succeed. This means some pupils do not make as much progress as they could through the planned curriculum. The school should ensure that staff expertise is developed so pupils deepen their knowledge and understanding over time.