Armthorpe Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have taken decisive action to raise pupils' attendance, and improve outcomes and the quality of teaching.

These actions have contributed to marked improvements in these areas over the past 12 months. Governors are dedicated and have enhanced the support and challenge they provide to school leaders. Their increasing ability to hold leaders to account is contributing well to the pace of improvement.

The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good and improving. Most teachers demonstrate high expectations. These heightened expectations, alongside more accurate assessment, are contributing to the good progress pupils are curr...ently making.

The support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive has improved. However, teachers do not routinely plan to meet the additional needs of these pupils. Leaders are honest in their evaluation of the school's effectiveness.

They are not afraid to change their approach if needed. A recent review highlighted that pupils access a largely broad and balanced curriculum. However, leaders are working to improve provision in religious education and the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum.

Rates of absence and persistent absence have reduced significantly. Leaders have introduced strategies to support all pupils and specifically those pupils who previously did not attend school as often as they should. From low starting points, pupils' attendance is now similar to that of other pupils nationally.

Pupils' behaviour is good. The vast majority of pupils are respectful, eager to learn and hold their teachers in high regard. A small minority of pupils do not always behave well; these pupils account for the majority of fixed-term exclusions, which remain above the national average.

Outcomes are good. Between 2017 and 2018, most pupils made significant gains in their learning, achieving well from below average starting points. Nevertheless, the most able pupils' progress is not as strong as that of other groups.

Additional funding to support disadvantaged pupils is having a positive effect. Disadvantaged pupils' rate of progress across a wide range of subjects is in line with that of their peers and other pupils nationally. Nevertheless, leaders are unclear which improvement strategies are the most effective.

The increasing number of pupils who join the school part-way through the year receive effective support. Most pupils quickly integrate into the school and make new friends.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized secondary school.

The vast majority of pupils attending the school are White British. The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged and receive support from the pupil premium is above the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is below average.

The school is a member of the Consilium multi-academy trust. Responsibility for the school rests with trustees who delegate some powers to the local governing board. The mission statement of the trust is to 'surround children with all things noble'.

Consilium multi-academy trust website and scheme of delegation can be found at: http://consilium-at.com/about-us/. Currently, the school uses full-time alternative education provision at Learning Centre, Maple Young Mums, JASP Education Centre and St Wilfrid's Academy.