Hanson Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 29 April 2025

Pupils enjoy an inclusive and aspirational environment at Hanson. They appreciate that their experience of school has improved greatly in recent times. Pupils enjoy the praise and rewards they receive. They behave well throughout the school day. Pupils focus on their learning in lessons. There is a calm atmosphere throughout the school day. Staff are highly ambitious for the pupils. The school's work to raise the quality of the curriculum and pupils' outcomes has had a positive effect. Staff have also increased the range of opportunities for pupils to grow beyond the academic. Pupils benefit from these as they help to broaden their horizons and encourage them to think about what they could do in the future. For example, pupils are helped to consider a wide range of careers, including apprenticeships. Students in the sixth form contribute by undertaking specific tasks to support staff and younger pupils. Pupils' attendance has significantly improved. Pupils are encouraged to be respectful of all members of the community. They feel safe and are proud of the school. Pupils develop positive relationships with the adults working with them. They know that staff take issues seriously and deal with problems that arise.

What the school should improve

• Some older pupils' gaps in knowledge from poor attendance or fractured experience in previous years persist. As a result, pupil outcomes are not as strong as they could be at the end of key stage 4. The school should ensure that the strategies implemented to address gaps in pupils understanding are fully embedded in all subjects to support pupils in building their knowledge effectively over time.
• Some areas of the 6th form curriculum implementation and aspects of the guidance for students are not sufficiently well embedded. This means that some students in the sixth form are not achieving as highly as they could. The school should ensure developments in the sixth form are highly focused on improving the consistency of student experience and outcomes as they complete their programmes of study.

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