Birchen Coppice Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 November 2024

The school is a welcoming oasis that is firmly at the heart of the community. There is a strong sense of belonging amongst staff and pupils. The high-quality pastoral care for pupils and their families is a key feature of the school's work. Pupils grow to contribute positively to the warm and inclusive environment. They are succeeding in many parts of school life. However, the school does need to improve pupils' achievement in writing and their understanding in some subjects. The school understands what needs to be done next to help pupils do better. Pupils behave well. They have a secure understanding of what it means to be part of the community in school. Pupils' positive attitudes to learning, and strong relationships with adults, reflect the great improvements made in the last two years. Pupils feel safe and know that if they need help, adults are swift to offer support. The school develops pupils' character well. Pupils are helped to understand what it means to grow up in the wider society. They have opportunities to exercise leadership roles and contribute to the life of the school. Pupils help to setup assemblies and lunchtime sports, for example. They understand that is important to help to make everyone's life better.

What the school should improve

• The school does not develop pupils' writing skills well enough over time. The curriculum has recently been revised to address this but is not fully embedded. The school should ensure that staff receive the support and guidance needed to ensure that the approach to writing is implemented well so that it meets the needs of all pupils.
• The school is still developing staff expertise to deliver aspects of the curriculum successfully. The inconsistencies in staff's expertise hinders how well some pupils acquire and develop a deep understanding of subjects over time. As the school implements its refined curriculum, it should ensure that teachers are supported to develop their subject specific skills and expertise to enable them to deliver the curriculum effectively.
• The recent curriculum changes in some foundation subjects are in their early stages of implementation. Due to variability in how effectively he curriculum in different subjects has been developed, some pupils cannot recall what they have learned in these subjects. The school should ensure that the curriculum in foundation subjects is fully developed and effectively delivered so that pupils are able to know and remember the key knowledge.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)