Unity Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils attend a range of off-site provisions for their education.

They usually study at one or two settings that are carefully chosen to help pupils re-engage with their education.

Staff have high expectations of pupils. Most pupils gain qualifications in English and mathematics and other academic and vocational subjects.

Their time at Unity Academy helps pupils to move on to purposeful destinations when they leave.

Pupils behave well in lessons and within the various settings. Staff manage pupils' behaviour skilfully and teach them how to conduct themselves in different situations.

Staff and pupils enjoy positive and productive relationship...s.

Most pupils have much better attendance at Unity Academy than they did at previous schools. Staff use a range of strategies to help to promote regular attendance.

However, some pupils are still absent too often.

There are clear procedures in place to help pupils stay safe. They all have trusted adults to talk to if they have any concerns.

Pupils are confident that staff would deal with any problems that they may have. Pupils feel safe in the settings. They learn about local, national and international safeguarding issues that help them to make informed choices about reducing risk.

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

Unity Academy accurately identifies and meets the needs of the pupils who attend the school. Pupils benefit from an appropriately tailored curriculum that allows them to prepare for future learning and adult life. The curriculum is designed to give pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils, the knowledge and the cultural capital that they need to succeed.

The trust has invested significantly in staff training and literacy resources. Reading is now prioritised to allow pupils to access the full curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to read regularly.

They read out loud in class, read in groups and to members of staff on an individual basis. Over the last few years, each setting has concentrated on helping every pupil to improve their reading. There is now a sharp focus on helping those who are at the early stages of reading get the support that they need to catch up.

The curriculum is having a positive impact on pupils. It is meeting their academic and social and emotional needs. Since the last inspection, a greater proportion of young people have moved on to college, apprenticeships, training and employment.

Pupils are well prepared for adult life and future learning. Across the settings, pupils receive high-quality careers education. They are aware of their different options and understand how behaving appropriately and achieving qualifications will help them to access opportunities in the future.

The school works with providers to ensure that they have clear behaviour systems in place. Staff manage behaviour effectively and use rewards and sanctions appropriately. Consequently, pupils behave well in their tailored learning environments.

There are demonstrable improvements in the behaviour of pupils who have particular needs.

Improving attendance is a high priority for the school. Staff track the attendance of each pupil closely.

They meet every week to discuss the barriers to regular attendance and put in support. Staff work closely with outside agencies and the local authority to address issues and the 'AP Task Force' use bespoke strategies to reduce absence. As a result, many pupils have significantly improved attendance since joining Unity Academy.

The trust's central attendance and welfare team have provided effective support in this area.

Pupils benefit from a range of personal development opportunities that promote fundamental British values and spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness. However, as these activities are not tracked and planned across the providers, not all pupils receive the full impact of these rich experiences.

Staff from Unity Academy regularly check the quality of provision across the different providers. They use the information that they collect to provide additional support, guidance and training to help the providers develop their practice.

Governance has improved since the last inspection.

The trust and members of the Trust Interim Executive Board (TIEB) use their knowledge, training and experience to hold leaders to full account. Those responsible for governance ensure that the school has a clear vision and strategies, that resources are well managed and that Unity Academy fulfils its statutory duties.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Some pupils are absent too often. This means that they do not receive the good-quality education that Unity Academy provides. The school should continue to work with pupils, families, outside agencies and providers to remove barriers to regular attendance.

• Not all pupils access the rich experiences that promote personal development across the providers. Consequently, some pupils miss opportunities to broaden their horizons. Unity Academy should monitor and track the various activities and ensure that all pupils experience a wide range of activities that promote personal development.

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