Chiltern Way Academy Austen

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 25 February 2025

Pupils thrive in this welcoming and inclusive school. A strong sense of belonging is fostered from the moment they arrive. The introduction of new daily routines means that pupils experience a predictable start to the day. This creates a secure and reassuring environment where pupils behave well. A key feature of this approach is the first lesson of the day, the 'orientation and regulation session'. This helps pupils to regulate their behaviour, and transition smoothly into learning. Since joining the trust, the school has significantly raised its academic expectations. The newly established curriculum has an ambitious 'golden thread' woven throughout all subject areas. This aims to make sure pupils are well equipped to gain meaningful employment in the future. Older pupils told us how much they value the personalised support they receive to be ready for their next steps. The school has helped them find out about college courses, gain work experience and be ready for their examinations. Pupils enjoy a fantastic range of lunchtime clubs. There is something to suit every interest, including 'quiet club', board games, sports or other activities. There are a growing number of trips, visits, outdoor learning opportunities and travel training integrated into the curriculum. These provide memorable experiences and help pupils develop into responsible and valued members of the community.

What the school should improve

• The new whole-school assessment system is not yet fully established. This means the school is not able to fully understand the progress pupils are making through the new curriculum or identify and remedy any gaps in pupils' knowledge and understanding. The school should continue the work it has started to robustly embed this system and train staff to implement this.
• There is variation in how well the new early reading programme is delivered. Some adults do not have a secure understanding of how to implement the teaching methods as well as they could. This means that sometimes they do not reinforce the consistent strategies that help pupils develop fluency. The school should ensure all staff have the training they need to effectively teach all pupils to read.

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