Hob Moor Oaks Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

The vast majority of pupils make good progress. Often they make outstanding progress in communication. This means that they are well prepared for the next stage in their education.

All pupils benefit from an outstanding partnership with the mainstream school which shares the same premises. This makes a significant contribution to pupils' achievement both in school subjects and in their personal development. Almost all teaching is now good and the amount of outstanding teaching is increasing rapidly.

In most lessons, pupils learn well because they enjoy their learning. Pupils show they feel very safe and cared for well. This is b...ecause staff ensure that each pupil's individual needs are met very well.

Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage make a good start to their learning because : they have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of learning experiences alongside their mainstream peers. Leaders have high expectations of what pupils can achieve and have clear plans to ensure that everyone works together as a team to improve pupils' achievement. All staff are given clear information about how to improve their teaching.

This is supporting continuous school improvement. The governing body makes an excellent contribution to leadership because they ensure that actions they take always contribute to their clear plan for the school's future. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils with severe learning difficulties have in the past not made as much progress as other pupils.

Pupils do not always understand what they have read. The role of middle leaders is not yet fully developed to enable them to have a sharp focus on and an overview of achievement in the curriculum subjects for which they are responsible.

Information about this school

All pupils have learning difficulties and additionally many have autism or complex medical conditions.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is below average. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs. There are more boys than girls.

The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is average. The pupil premium is additional funding for those pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, children from service families and children who are looked after by the local authority. This school is federated with Hob Moor Primary School.

The two schools have a joint governing body and are led and managed by one Principal. Each school has its own head of school. There is a temporary leadership arrangement from 1 September 2013 until 1 January 2014, pending the appointment of a new Principal.

The current Principal is employed as a part-time Consultant Principal. Both heads of school are acting headteachers for this period. The two schools share all areas of the building but have separate classrooms.

Senior and middle leaders from both schools work in partnership. The on-site children's centre is inspected separately. A copy of its report is available on the website www.

ofsted.gov.uk.

Also at this postcode