The Fermain Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Leaders, governors and staff have established a school that truly changes the lives of pupils and their families. In a short period of time, leaders have had a considerable impact on improving education for some of the most vulnerable pupils in the locality.

As such, they have helped to orchestrate improvements to education within the local area. Pupils typically join the school feeling demoralised. The school quickly builds their confidence and self-esteem.

This underpins the excellent academic progress that they make. The school supports pupils to develop a clear understanding of right and wrong. Pupils become committed and resp...onsible citizens and many aspire to follow careers that will enable them to help others.

The school lays secure foundations for pupils' futures. Pupils experience considerable success at a range of appropriate post-16 destinations. Pupils' behaviour is impeccable.

Staff teach them how to regulate their own behaviour. Pupils also develop strategies to help each other to maintain calm and purposeful behaviour at all times. Teachers have very high expectations of pupils.

They provide work that enables them to make rapid progress. Leaders fundamentally understand that pupils often join the school with vast reservoirs of untapped potential. As such, they recognise that teachers could provide pupils with even greater challenge.

The curriculum is exceptionally broad, balanced and aspirational. Pupils benefit from intensive support to improve their literacy and numeracy skills. This is complemented by a range of subjects that provide equality of opportunity with pupils in mainstream schools.

Leaders have ensured that pupils benefit from a broad range of opportunities that enrich the formal curriculum. Leaders have ensured that arrangements for safeguarding are thorough and help pupils to overcome any additional vulnerabilities caused by disrupted schooling. Pupils trust and respect staff and feel comfortable sharing any concerns with them.

The school has a dramatic impact on improving pupils' attendance. Rates of overall attendance are close to last year's national averages for all schools. Leaders are acutely aware that many pupils who join the school have potentially undiagnosed special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities.

They recognise that stronger partnership work is required to ensure that such pupils receive the support that they need.

Information about this school

The school opened in September 2015. Since then, the number of pupils attending the school has increased significantly.

The school has been rebuilt since opening. The new building was completed for the start of the current academic year. The school takes pupils from a wide range of schools in Cheshire East local authority and beyond.

All pupils are also on roll with a 'home' school. For some pupils, the 'home' school is the Oakfield Lodge School, which is the local authority's pupil referral unit. All pupils have been permanently excluded from school or have been at risk of permanent exclusion.

The work of the school is currently overseen by the East Cheshire Youth Achievement Free School Trust. The trust is in the process of being reconstituted and renamed to coincide with the recent announcement that it is to open a second school in Crewe for pupils aged 4 to 16 with social, emotional and mental health needs. The new school is due to open in 2019.

The majority of governors are also trustees. The school has been supported closely by the Department for Education since opening. A very small number of pupils have an education, health and care plan.

A number of pupils are in the process of assessment for such a plan. The proportion of pupils entitled to support through the pupil premium funding is well above the national average. A number of pupils are children looked after.

The majority of pupils are of white British heritage. There are more boys than girls at the school. The school does not use any alternative providers.

During the current academic year, the school has piloted a small number of places for pupils in Years 7 and 8. This pilot has focused on providing short-term intensive support for pupils at risk of permanent exclusion. Once the pilot has been reviewed, the school will make a decision on whether or not to extend the age range of the pupils for which it is registered.