Hall Cross Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 May 2023

Hall Cross Academy is an inclusive school. Pupils told inspectors that bullying is rare. If it does occur, leaders take swift and effective action. Pupils feel safe in school because they trust the adults who support them. One pupil's comment, which captures the opinion of many, was 'You can be whoever you want to be here.' Staff know pupils well and care about them as individuals. Leaders, together with staff, want all pupils to achieve their best, both personally and academically. Pupils and students respond well to these high expectations. They enjoy their learning and achieve well in a range of academic and vocational subjects. High expectations for pupils' behaviour mean that lessons are positive and purposeful. Pupils appreciate how these high expectations help them to learn better. Behaviour is calm around the school. Pupils are polite and friendly. Overwhelmingly, there are positive relationships between pupils and staff. Pupils can take part in a vast range of extra-curricular clubs. These are well attended by pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils told inspectors, 'There is a club for everybody and it helps pupils make friends.'

What the school should improve

• The number of pupils who choose to study a language, geography or history at key stage 4 is low. This means that some pupils are not studying a broad range of EBacc subjects. Leaders should consider and implement the best ways to ensure that more pupils continue to study these subjects after key stage 3.
• Leaders are aware that there is some inconsistency in assessment. In some subjects, pupils' misconceptions are not remedied well enough. This leads to gaps in pupils' understanding. Leaders should ensure that the best practice across the school in assessment is applied across all subjects. This will help pupils to learn more of the curriculum over time.

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