[O]fsted have praised the transformation of Central Academy which has resulted in it achieving ‘Good’ at its latest inspection.
The inspectors found that the transformed culture of the school has led to improvements year on year with the school achieving its best ever results in 2016. Teaching was said to have improved dramatically across subjects and year groups with maths and science being highlighted as performing particularly well.
Richard Rose Sixth Form was also graded as ‘Good’. Inspectors found that the teaching and support students receive enables them to achieve well so that they are prepared for the next stage of their lives.
Principal Stephen Gilby, the Senior Leadership Team, governors and the academy’s sponsor, United Learning, were all credited for transforming the school. Along with the governors and United Learning, Mr Gilby was said to be ‘determined and ambitious for all pupils’. The governors were also singled out for praise for playing ‘an instrumental role in bringing out improvements in the school’.
The inspectors were also highly complimentary about the academy’s teachers who are said to ‘go the extra mile to encourage pupils to do their best’.
Teachers were also said to have ‘given up their Saturdays to provide additional revision classes for Year 11 pupils’.
In their report, inspectors also noted:
- ‘The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good. Teachers’ good subject knowledge enables them to deliver structured lessons that secure good pupil progress.’
- ‘The curriculum supports pupils’ personal and academic development across a wide range of subjects.’
- ‘Leaders are committed to raising pupils’ aspirations by further developing their social and cultural skills.’
- ‘The school’s arrangements for keeping pupils safe are effective. Pupils feel very safe.’
- ‘The partnership between school and home is increasingly positive and mutually supportive.’
Central Academy Principal, Stephen Gilby said: “I am delighted that our journey of improvement has been recognised by Ofsted. The school has come a long way over the last two years. We have taken the feedback from previous inspections to recognise the school’s strengths and weaknesses to improve in all areas. Our commitment to ensuring that all of our students achieve the best possible outcome has been key to this journey, and we are determined to continue these improvements into the future.
“The judgement from Ofsted reflects the work of a dedicated, hardworking and talented team of staff and the work we do with families to ensure that students do the best they can at school. We will be inviting parents of Year 5 pupils to an open evening on 22 June to find out more about our transformation.”
Derek Davies, Regional Director – Northern Academies at United Learning, said: “This report is testament to the tremendous amount of hard work and dedication of the entire school community. Under the leadership of Mr Stephen Gilby, staff have worked tirelessly to overcome significant challenges, such as the floods in December 2015, to make this school the very best it can be and this is being reflected in improving outcomes for students.
“There is of course more work to be done and everyone at the academy and United Learning will continue to work hard to drive further improvement. This report, however, is strong evidence that the academy is firmly established on the right path to becoming the ‘Outstanding’ school that it was always intended to be.”
To view the full report visit www.rrca.org.uk.
