Esteem North Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 February 2024

All pupils join the Esteem North Academy partway through their education. The vast majority of pupils join the school because they have been permanently excluded from other schools. Many pupils arrive here having had negative experiences of education. Nevertheless, staff take time to build warm and trusting relationships with pupils so that they feel safe and happy in school. Pupils feel listened to and respected. They know that they have staff whom they can talk to and share any worries with. The school has high expectations for all pupils to achieve well. Staff support pupils to re-engage with learning and to get back on track with their education. Pupils value this opportunity. As a result, typically pupils learn well across the curriculum. The school has high expectations of pupils' behaviour. Staff encourage pupils to reflect on their behaviour and to manage the impact of what they do on others. Typically, classrooms are calm and orderly. Pupils' behaviour improves considerably over the time that they are present in the school. Pupils appreciate the opportunities that they have to develop their interests and talents, such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme and through valuable work experience opportunities.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, some staff are developing their subject knowledge and expertise needed to present information clearly and address pupils' misconceptions at the point at which they arise. This impacts on how well pupils gain the knowledge they need. The school should continue to enhance its professional development package to enable staff to become experts across the curriculum, so that the teaching of the curriculum is consistently effective.
• While there is a demonstrable improvement in the attendance of most pupils who come to this school, some do not yet attend as well as they should. This means a small number of pupils are not benefiting from the full education that they need. Leaders should ensure that strategies to reduce absence can be sustained over a long enough period to change the culture of attendance for these pupils.

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