Bluecoat Beechdale Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 October 2022

This is a happy, caring school. Pupils feel safe. Staff are proud of their pupils and enjoy working with them. The school rewards pupils for being kind, curious, resilient and positive. That is 'the BBA way'. The school wants every pupil to aim high in education and in life. The curriculum aims to bring the richness of the world into the classroom. Teachers support pupils to make ambitious choices for future work and study. Pupils' learning extends well beyond the classroom. They have opportunities to be sports leaders, to make props for the Royal Shakespeare Company and to visit universities. At breakfast club, pupils get set for the day with a bagel and a chat. There is a range of clubs where pupils can discover and develop their interests. At the after-school study centre, pupils study independently or with help from staff. Expectations are high. Pupils know where they stand because expectations are very clear. Classrooms and corridors are calm and orderly. Most pupils behave well and want to learn. Bullying is rare and staff deal with it swiftly. If they need it, pupils get effective help to improve their behaviour.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the curriculum is not consistently well delivered. Where this is the case, pupils' work is not of the same high quality seen in other subjects. Leaders must ensure that staff support pupils to embed key concepts, use knowledge fluently and develop their understanding, so that they produce high-quality work in all subjects.
• The delivery of the PSHE curriculum is not yet consistently effective. Not all pupils value the PSHE provision. Leaders must ensure that the intended PSHE curriculum is implemented effectively, so that pupils value the programme and their learning improves.

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