The Oldham Academy North

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The dynamic leadership of the principal has brought a sweeping change across the school.

He has sharpened systems and built a strong team. A firm platform for future success has been laid. The cohesive team of senior leaders have played a pivotal role in driving improvements in teaching and learning.

Pupils are now making strong progress from their starting points, particularly in English and mathematics. The achievement of disadvantaged pupils is good. School leaders make careful use of extra funding provided to support these pupils.

Teaching and achievement in the visual and creative arts is exceptional. The 'futures programme'..., a specialist curriculum, enriches pupils' skills and provides new experiences. All pupils have the opportunity to excel and develop interests and aspirations beyond the classroom.

Pupils feel safe and secure. They behave and attend well and take pride in their work. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural education of pupils is rich and varied across the school.

There is an impressive range of opportunities to promote British values and diversity is an impressive feature of the school. Pupils' careers advice is excellent across all key stages; virtually all pupils proceed into further education, training or employment when they leave school. The school is rigorous in keeping all pupils safe.

Leaders are meticulous in ensuring that pupils receive superb care. Pastoral care in the woodlands centre, a provision unit, is excellent. Staff empower pupils and remove barriers to their learning, building pupils' self-esteem and improving outcomes.

The needs of pupils who have special educational needs or disability are exceptionally well met. This ensures that pupils flourish and develop well within the school. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils are not regularly encouraged to read widely and often; there is not a strong culture of reading across the school.

Some teachers do not plan work that captures pupils' interest; consequently pupils are not always highly motivated to excel. A few teachers do not provide pupils with high enough challenge or expectations in lessons. Not enough pupils are resilient in their learning; nor do they have the curiosity and ability to work on their own.

The newly formed ambassadorial advisory group is yet to be fully trained to ensure that its members can fulfil their role within the governance structure. Pupils' attainment is not yet at national levels across the majority of subjects.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized secondary school and is sponsored by E-ACT.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is above average and the proportion who have an education, health and care plan is below average. The proportion of pupils eligible for the government's pupil premium grant is well over double the national average. The pupil premium is additional government funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those looked after by the local authority.

Almost all pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds and speak English as an additional language. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics. A few pupils are educated through off-site provision.

Providers include Oldham College and Kingsland School. Since the previous inspection, middle leadership and some senior leadership posts have been created. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.