Dorrington Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 30 June 2026

Dorrington Academy is a friendly and welcoming school. Pupils feel safe and thrive in a positive environment. They speak proudly about being part of a diverse community and say that everyone is treated fairly. At Dorrington, differences are celebrated and there is a focus on harmony and unity. This is a truly inclusive school. Across the school, pupils behave well, are polite and respectful, and move calmly between lessons. They say bullying does not happen, and staff and leaders respond quickly and consistently to any concerns. Parents and staff strongly agree that pupils are safe and well cared for. Pupils enjoy their learning. In lessons, they engage positively with the ambitious curriculum and respond well to teachers’ high expectations. They benefit from clear routines, purposeful talk and strong relationships with staff. In early years, children show positive attitudes and are eager to join in activities, supported by high quality interactions that build early vocabulary and communication. Older pupils describe learning as enjoyable and say they feel confident tackling new challenges. Pupils with additional needs are fully included in classroom life, accessing learning successfully. Any barriers to learning are reduced in a range of different ways to enable the majority of pupils to make strong progress from their starting points. Pupils achieve well. They build secure foundational knowledge, particularly in reading, phonics and mathematics. Pupils value the leadership opportunities available to them, such as supporting playtimes and contributing to school life. Pupils feel a strong sense of belonging. They talk positively about the school’s values and show respect for others. They participate in a wide range of experiences that enrich their learning, including trips, community projects, safety education and wider curriculum activities. Attendance is improving for pupils who previously struggled, supported by strong pastoral relationships and early help. Pupils are confident that trusted adults will listen to them and help when needed.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that the teaching of writing is consistently effective so that pupils secure the foundational writing skills needed for future learning.
• Leaders should continue to use an evidence-informed approach to further develop teachers’ subject knowledge and pedagogy to ensure consistently strong teaching across all subjects and year groups.
• Leaders should ensure that recent improvements in attendance are sustained over time.
• Leaders should strengthen the relationships, sex and health education curriculum so that older pupils develop a secure and detailed knowledge to ensure they are very well prepared for life beyond school.
• Leaders should improve outdoor learning opportunities in early years so that provision matches the ambition and quality of indoor learning.

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