Kirk Hallam Community Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 22 October 2024

Kirk Hallam Community Academy is a caring and welcoming school. Most pupils enjoy learning here. Staff and pupils said that the school has improved. Many parents and carers appreciate the care and support the school provides for their children. There are positive relationships between staff and pupils. Pupils feel safe and are supported well. The school is calm and orderly. Pupils are respectful to each other and staff. Most pupils behave well in lessons and at social times. The school has high expectations of what pupils can achieve, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). However, the school has not ensured that all pupils receive a high-quality education. The quality of teaching is not yet consistently good across the school. Pupils and students in the sixth form do not achieve as well as they should. Pupils have a range of opportunities to contribute to the school. Some pupils enjoy being well-being, reading or subject ambassadors. Some students in the sixth form also support younger pupils with reading. There are a range of extra-curricular activities that an increasing number of pupils take part in. For example, pupils enjoy attending sports clubs, well-being club, dance, drama and animal care club.

What the school should improve

• Some teachers do not check pupils' understanding well enough. This means that gaps in pupils' learning and misconceptions are not identified or addressed. Pupils do not learn as well as they should. The school should ensure that teachers systematically check pupils' understanding so they can identify when pupils need to revisit learning.
• Some teachers do not adapt their teaching or resources to support pupils with SEND to access the curriculum. As a result, some pupils with SEND do not learn as well as they should. The school should ensure that teachers know how to use the information and strategies the school provides to support pupils with SEND so that these pupils can access the curriculum and achieve well.
• Pupils at the early stages of learning to read are not getting the support they need to improve their reading. This makes it difficult for these pupils to access the curriculum. The school should ensure that these pupils get appropriate support to improve their reading accuracy and fluency.
• The school has not ensured that pupils are developing their understanding of fundamental British values. As a result, some pupils are not as well prepared for life in modern Britain as they should be. The school should ensure that pupils have opportunities to develop their understanding of fundamental British values so that pupils are prepared for life in modern Britain effectively.

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