‘There are many, many highlights!’ Spalding Academy ‘delighted’ with latest Ofsted findings

Students’ ‘commendable behaviour’ and their ‘positive and respectful relationships’ have been praised following an Ofsted inspection.

Lucy Conley, chief executive officer at South Lincolnshire Academies Trust has welcomed the findings at Spalding Academy.

"I am delighted to say that the report is extremely positive and I feel it reflects the school very well, including outlining that Spalding Academy remains a Good school and that safeguarding is effective,” she said.

“There are many, many highlights in this report including comments about the commendable behaviour of our students, the positive and respectful relationships witnessed in the school and that since the last inspection we have continued to improve every area of the school.

"We can celebrate that our teachers have strong subject knowledge and that all staff are proud to work at Spalding Academy.

“I am also thrilled that the excellent attitudes our students have to their learning is recognised and that they achieve highly, supported by high quality career advice to support them in reaching their future life goals."

The continuous improvements made to every area at Spalding Academy has been recognised in the latest Ofsted report under the new framework.

Spalding Academy had a Section 8 inspection for Good schools on April 1 and 2, its first under the new Ofsted framework, and rather than a new set of judgements, the principal judgements that inspectors make during a Section 8 inspection are whether the school remains Good, and whether safeguarding is effective.

The report has outlined that Spalding Academy remains a Good school and that safeguarding is effective.

Mrs Conley added: "At Spalding Academy, we place a significant focus on support for all our young people as they navigate their way through school and growing up with life in modern Britain and I am extremely pleased therefore, that the report recognised that our students receive high quality pastoral support.

"There are many more positives from the inspection process and the final report that I could reflect on, and the students and staff at Spalding Academy deserve this positive validation of their fantastic school!"

Key statements from the latest Ofsted report included: since the last inspection, leaders have continued to improve every area of the school; the school and trust leaders are committed to ensuring every student gets the best education possible; the school is caring and welcoming and high expectations of what students can achieve and how they should behave.

It added there are positive, respectful relationships between staff and students and students say that staff support them well.

The report also highlighted where the school could improve.

It stated: “On occasion, the curriculum is not delivered as well as it could be.

“For example, some teachers in some subjects do not check pupils’ understanding well enough or explain new learning clearly.

“This means that some pupils do not learn as well as they could in these subjects. The school should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to deliver the curriculum effectively, in particular how well they explain new learning and how checks on pupils’ learning inform future teaching.”