Linchfield Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 July 2023

The ambitious, caring ethos of Linchfield Academy is built on the values of respect, reflection, resourcefulness, responsibility and resilience. The '5Rs' are the heart of the school. They guide leaders' decisions. They form the language of learning at Linchfield, with teachers referring to the '5Rs' frequently throughout their lessons. Pupils aspire to show these qualities. They know what they mean, and they understand why they are important. Pupils feel valued and secure in this nurturing environment. A pupil summed up the views of others well when they said, 'We are appreciated and listened to here, which makes us feel safe.' Pupils are polite and courteous. They enjoy learning, and they like being at school. Pupils are eager to join in during lessons. They take pride in their work. Pupils enjoy being rewarded for their good behaviour and demonstrating the '5Rs'. They look forward to saving up their 'dojo points' and spending them in the school shop. Pupils contribute to the development of the school. Leaders take pupils' ideas on board. School councillors, for instance, are proud of the quiet area they set up on the playground. Parents recognise the improvements that have taken place at Linchfield in recent years.

What the school should improve

• Teachers do not always check closely enough during lessons on what pupils understand. This means that pupils are sometimes given tasks before they are ready. Teachers must sharpen their use of assessment in lessons, ensuring they pick up on any misconceptions and fill important gaps in pupils' knowledge before new content is introduced.
• When teachers demonstrate how to use knowledge and apply skills, pupils achieve well. However, when learning is not modelled as effectively, pupils make less progress. The quality of pupils' work is not as high when they do not have an example to follow. Teachers should ensure that pupils always have a clear understanding of what they need to do and how they need to do it so that all pupils achieve well in all lessons.

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