Outstanding rating for Spalding academy which ‘makes a difference to pupils’ lives’

A school where ‘staff make a difference to pupils’ lives’ has been rated outstanding.

Spalding’s Springwell Special Academy impressed during a recent Ofsted inspection.

The venue caters specifically for pupils who have been permanently excluded from mainstream school or are at high risk of permanent exclusion.

“Staff at Springwell Alternative Academy make a difference to pupils’ lives,” the report, published last Friday, stated.

“Pupils receive care, guidance and support in a warm and nurturing environment.

“Pupils who attend this school often have difficult previous school experiences, or have significant challenges in their lives. Staff understand this and have created a positive, supportive environment where pupils do well.

“There are kind, professional relationships between staff and pupils. Staff know pupils exceptionally well.”

Lisa Ashcroft-Day, executive principal, said: “Since opening in 2019, the Springwell Spalding team has worked tirelessly to create something exceptional for our pupils and community.

“We’re incredibly proud to now have that recognised externally in this fantastic first Ofsted report.

“Our students often have had difficult experiences with education and we work hard to ensure that we turn that around when they come to us.

“We focus on developing a deep understanding of each student and giving them the support and compassion they need to thrive.

“We’re particularly proud that inspectors underlined our ‘positive regard for all’ approach and our high ambitions for our students.

“We want all our young people to have the skills and resources to move on to productive, successful lives and we’ll continue to work hard to make that happen.”

As well as its overall rating, the academy was also rated outstanding in all four sub-categories; quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.

The report added that Springwell Academy – which has 41 pupils on roll – has ‘strategies designed to help pupils improve and manage their behaviour’ which are ‘highly effective’.

“Behaviour improves significantly over time,” it added. “Many pupils have struggled to attend school previously.

“For the majority of pupils, attendance also improves. Pupils know they can achieve at this school and respond well to the high expectations set for all.”

Reading is prioritised and safeguarding is effective, the report continued.

“Staff are aware that they need to teach pupils about personal and social issues explicitly, as these are areas where many pupils experience difficulties,” the report, written following an inspection on September 26, added.

“The highly effective personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum ensures that pupils know how to keep safe online and in the wider community.

“Pupils learn to take care of their mental and physical health, including cooking nutritious meals. They enjoy eating these with staff.

“Pupils actively support each other’s well-being.”

Mark Wilson, CEO at Wellspring Academy Trust, said: “Lisa and the team at Springwell Spalding have created something truly special.

“The school is warm, supportive, highly effective and provides its young people with the foundations they need for success.

“Inspectors were absolutely right to state that staff ‘make a difference to pupils’ lives.’

“The Springwell Spalding team are changing lives every day and we’re all very proud to have them as part of the Wellspring community.”