Branthwaite Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 15 October 2024

Pupils are welcomed to this school with a warm smile and a friendly greeting. They know that staff care for them deeply and that there is always an adult there for them when needed. Consequently, pupils feel happy and know that they are in safe hands here. The school expects all pupils, all of whom have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to achieve well. However, there are weaknesses in how well the curriculum for pupils across school, including students in the sixth form, is designed, and delivered, in several subjects. This means that some pupils do not achieve as well as they should. Pupils are respectful of others. They conduct themselves well around school. Older students are positive role models for their peers. Pupils are clear about the behaviours expected of them. Staff respond swiftly and sensitively to their emotional needs. Pupils talk enthusiastically about the interesting and varied 'enterprise' activities that they are involved in. There is a broad range of opportunities to develop their confidence and independence through creating companies and designing and making products. Older pupils act as a board of trustees, overseeing all aspects of these activities. Pupils gain a wealth of skills and understanding about the world of work through activities that include research, finance, and marketing.

What the school should improve

• In several subjects, across all key stages and including the sixth form, the school has not considered exactly what pupils should learn and in what order. This hinders some pupils from achieving as highly as they could. The school should finalise the curriculum content in these subjects to ensure that teachers know exactly what knowledge pupils must learn and when they should learn it.
• In several subjects, assessment strategies are not used effectively. Where this happens, teachers are not clear about what pupils have learned and where there might be gaps in pupils' knowledge. The school should ensure that teachers have a clear understanding of exactly what pupils know and can remember and use this information to shape future learning.
• For some pupils, the information the school has about their SEND needs is not used effectively. Where this is the case, teachers are not setting targets that are precise enough. Consequently, pupils do not learn all that they could. The school should ensure that targets set from the SEND information available to the school are precise enough to accurately identify pupils' next steps in learning.

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