Foxfields Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 January 2023

Pupils of all ages thrive at Foxfields Academy. The school caters very well for pupils' academic and social and emotional needs. Pupils who may have had negative experiences in the past receive well-planned support to overcome their difficulties. Staff are skilled in helping pupils who sometimes struggle to manage their behaviour and emotions. When incidents occur, staff follow clear routines to reduce any negative impact on pupils' learning. Pupils enjoy collecting points for good behaviour, attitudes and achievements. They are proud of the rewards they earn. They agree that this system motivates them to do well at school. Pupils say that the staff 'help us to do our best all the time'. Pupils understand the school's core values of trust, honesty and respect. They agree that these values are important. Pupils say that they feel safe at school. They know that bullying is unacceptable. Pupils say that staff take bullying seriously and deal with any instances quickly and fairly. Leaders and staff provide a wide range of activities to foster pupils' talents and interests. For example, there are regular opportunities for taking part in outdoor activities. Clubs such as football, animal care and art are offered every week.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of foundation subjects, leaders are still in the process of mapping out the curriculum beyond key stage 3. Resources and qualification routes are not finalised in some subjects, as well as some other details of curriculum refinement. Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is fully planned and sequenced in all subjects, so that pupils in all year groups know and remember more over time.
• Fewer than half of pupils have consistently good attendance. This is due to a range of reasons, some of which are outside of the school's control. However, where home-school links are weak, attendance is adversely affected. Not all parents attend the review meetings for their children's education, health and care plans (EHC plans). Due to the pandemic, some parents have never visited the school. Leaders should ensure that pupils who are regularly absent receive the support they need to improve their attendance, including through the school's development of effective and purposeful engagement with parents and carers.

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