LeAF Studio

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have built a school with a unique identity that serves the needs of its pupils well. Pupils are proud of their school and of their achievements. Pupils join the school in order to pursue their talents in the performing arts or sporting arenas.

Leaders have created an environment that supports their ambition and dovetails it well with an academic curriculum. The quality of teaching in the performing arts and sport is extremely strong. Teachers have a deep knowledge of their subjects and are highly skilled.

As a result of the quality of their teaching, pupils are inspired to learn and reach very high standards. The quality of indivi...dual support and care for pupils is a strength of the school. Staff know their pupils as individuals and are quick to step in when they need additional support.

Pupils are well behaved. They treat each other with respect and warmth. Bullying is rare.

Pupils say there is no place for homophobia, racism or transgender discrimination. The leaders of the multi-academy trust (MAT) that oversees the school have brought stability after a period of staffing and financial turbulence. As a result of the support of the trust, the capacity for further improvement is good.

Leaders have ensured that the curriculum is designed to meet the needs of pupils. The balance of specialist and academic teaching is appropriate. It gives pupils a rounded education while providing time for them to focus on their passion for the performing arts or sport.

The sixth form is growing rapidly. It provides high-quality teaching of practical subjects. Students are given good opportunities to develop their talents through a strong programme of additional opportunities and high-quality work experience.

There is some weaker teaching of theoretical work. The quality of teaching is good overall. Consequently, pupils make good progress from their starting points in Year 9, when they first join the school.

Not all teaching is of the highest quality. Where it is weaker, pupils are not challenged to reach the standards they are capable of. In some cases, pupils cannot make the progress they should because their teachers do not explain how to improve their work with sufficient precision.

The most able pupils are not always challenged to reach the highest standards in their academic work. Consequently, they sometimes underachieve.

Information about this school

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

The school opened in 2013 and joined the Ambitions Academy Trust in 2017. The school is a studio school. It specialises in the performing arts and sport.

The sixth form grew substantially in 2018 because students following sport and outdoor education courses in another sixth form within the trust moved across to the school. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is below the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is below the national average.