Millbay Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an inadequate school Too many pupils across the primary and secondary phases of the school are making insufficient progress. Staff expectations are not high enough. Leaders do not evaluate the effectiveness of pupil premium and catch-up funding.

Consequently, funding does not lead directly to higher outcomes for pupils. Absence overall, and for different groups of pupils, is too high and not showing signs of improvement. Persistent absence is also too high, as is exclusion from school.

Across the school there is too much low-level disruption. Teaching does not engage pupils and the learning environment is not conducive to learning. Leadership and exter...nal support, over time, have not improved teaching quality sufficiently to enable pupils to realise their potential.

Teaching and assessment do not meet the needs of different groups of pupils. The most able pupils are not challenged to achieve their best. The least able pupils are not provided with adequate support.

Governors have not held leaders to account for pupils' outcomes in key subjects, such as English and mathematics, over time. Exclusions from school are above average. They are not declining quickly enough.

Provision in Reception is not yet good because : the curriculum and learning environments require development to maximise children's progress. The curriculum does not enable pupils to acquire knowledge and skills across a broad range of subjects. Most pupils do not receive adequate careers advice.

The school has the following strengths Senior and middle leaders, who are very new in post, are making positive changes, but it is too soon to judge their impact. The large majority of parents and carers who shared their views are supportive of the school. Safeguarding is effective.

Staff morale is high. Staff are supportive of each other and work hard to foster positive relationships with pupils, who are well cared for. The physical education (PE) and sport premium is spent effectively to improve staff training and opportunities for pupils.

Information about this school

Plymouth School of Creative Arts is a 3–16 mainstream, city-centre academy free school. It is sponsored by Plymouth College of Art. Its aim is to secure academic excellence in all subjects through taking an approach to learning similar to that used in the college, to develop the arts and creativity.

The primary phase opened in September 2013 in local offices. The secondary phase opened the following year with a cohort of Year 7 pupils from local primary schools. At the time of the inspection, there were, for the first time, pupils in all year groups.

The pupils moved into the new purpose-built school in February 2015. At the time of the inspection, the headteacher had very recently left the school. The two deputy headteachers stepped up to become joint interim headteachers after Christmas and had only been in post a matter of days.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is in line with the national average. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is much higher than the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND who receive support is well above the national average.

The proportion of pupils who have an education, health and care plan is also significantly above the national average. Two pupils attend alternative provision to support their mental health needs. The two alternative providers used by the school are ACE Schools Multi-Academy Trust and Quay Partnership Plymouth.