Uplands Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Short inspection of Uplands Community College

Following my visit to the school on 28 March 2017 with Ann Fearon, Ofsted Inspector, I write on behalf of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills to report the inspection findings.

The visit was the first short inspection carried out since the school was judged to be good in July 2013. This school continues to be good. The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection.

You and your leadership team continue to strive to provide the best possible education for each pupil. You are well supported by the staff and a dedicated and well-informed governing body in your drive to ac...hieve this. Parents are positive in their comments.

As one parent said, 'I am impressed by the caring and supportive nature of the staff.' At the last inspection, inspectors noted several strengths, including strong leadership, good teaching and rising attainment, as well as pupils' good behaviour and attitudes to learning. You have maintained and continued to build on these strengths.

Inspectors also highlighted some aspects for specific attention. One was the need for leaders to increase the amount of good and outstanding teaching and learning across the school. They advised that pupils in the main school should develop the skills for independent learning.

They also advised that teachers should check that all pupils act on feedback given to them. You have taken effective action to address these recommendations. Your teachers benefit from high-quality training.

In addition, you have made recent appointments of strong and experienced teachers, including to key leadership positions. As a result, teaching is consistently strong and improving. Pupils also make good use of the feedback they receive from their teachers to improve their work.

At the last inspection, inspectors also highlighted the need to raise attendance levels overall and reduce the numbers of pupils who are persistently absent. In addition, they identified that leaders needed to set more challenging targets in the sixth form. The actions you have taken to address these recommendations have had some success.

For example, attendance overall is now above the national average and rising numbers of sixth-form students apply for higher education or further training. At the same time, you recognise that more needs to be done to ensure that all pupils attend school regularly and that all subjects perform strongly in the sixth form. Pupils' progress in 2016 was above average overall in many subjects and well above average in English and languages.

You recognise that progress in mathematics was not so strong, especially for disadvantaged pupils. You have made appropriate changes to address this, including the use of pupil premium funding to provide additional support to these pupils. Consequently, current achievement information from mock examinations shows that pupils in Year 11 are on track to achieve well.

Safeguarding is effective. You have established a strong culture of safeguarding that runs throughout the school. This is well supported by an effective safeguarding system that makes sure that all pupils are secure.

Procedures and policies meet statutory requirements. You, as the designated safeguarding leader, receive good support from your effective deputies. Leaders and governors have been appropriately trained in safeguarding and child protection, including safer recruitment procedures.

Training of staff and governors is both comprehensive and regular. For example, staff that join the school mid-year receive appropriate training. Your staff are aware of the signs to look out for that may indicate that a pupil is at risk of harm and take swift action when necessary to support vulnerable children.

Leaders work effectively with outside agencies, such as social services and the police, as required, to support vulnerable pupils. Pupils say that they feel very safe in school, and this is strongly supported by the views of parents. One parent reported, 'Both our children are really happy at Uplands.'

Pupils are aware of how to stay safe when using the internet and social media. Instances of bullying are very rare. When they do arise, staff deal with them swiftly and effectively.

Inspection findings ? During the meeting with you at the start of the day, we discussed your