The Priory Ruskin Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Leaders at all levels have created an ambitious culture that encourages all pupils to achieve very highly, both academically and in their personal development. The high-quality teaching that pupils across all years receive ensures that they make very strong progress across the curriculum.

Senior leaders work closely with subject leaders to check classroom practice. Leaders at all levels have a precise understanding of the quality of teaching. Disadvantaged pupils make strong progress, as a result of the targeted support that they receive.

The broad curriculum allows pupils of all abilities to study subjects that interest them and ...prepare them well for their next steps. As a result, pupils engage well with their learning. Systems for managing teachers' performance are rigorous, and help to ensure high-quality teaching.

Staff training is highly effective. It provides teachers and leaders with a range of opportunities to develop their practice further. Pupils' behaviour is excellent because of the focus that all leaders and teachers place on ensuring that pupils respect each other.

Staff work closely together to support pupils' welfare. Pupils receive highly effective opportunities to learn how to keep themselves safe and healthy. The school engages well with other providers, including those within the trust and locally, to share best practice and to maintain the high-quality provision at the school.

Members of the trust board and of the school's local governing board challenge leaders rigorously to maintain and develop further the quality of the school's provision. Senior leaders check closely the impact of the school's use of additional government funding. Pupils who are eligible make strong progress due to the school's effective use of this funding to support them.

Levels of attendance are above national figures for almost all groups of pupils. The quality of the sixth-form provision is good. Students' progress in the work-related subjects is above that seen nationally.

While not as high, students' progress in the academic subjects is improving.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The school complies with Department for Education guidance on what academies should publish.

Priory Ruskin Academy is a sponsor-led academy. It is a member of the Priory Federation of Academies Trust. The school is larger than the average-sized secondary school.

The proportion of pupils who are from minority ethnic groups is smaller than average. Almost two thirds of the pupils are boys. The number of pupils who are eligible for the pupil premium is below average.

The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is below average. The proportion of pupils who have an education, health and care plan is average. The school does not use any alternative provision for its pupils.

The headteacher is a local leader in education. She provides support to schools within the trust. In 2017, the school met the government's floor standards for pupils' achievement at the end of key stage 4.