Mid Essex Co-Operative Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 26 November 2024

This school is successfully preparing pupils to go back to full-time education. Many sustain their placements when they go back to mainstream schools or when they go to post-16 colleges. This is because the school carefully matches the curriculum to pupils' aspirations. Staff's high expectations of what pupils can achieve gives pupils confidence. Pupils grasp the opportunity to have another chance at education. As a result, pupils typically gain a suite of qualifications that they did not think was possible. Pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs learn resilience, how to interact and how to manage risk. Pupils benefit from activities such as rock climbing, beekeeping and motorbike maintenance, which take them out of their comfort zone. Primary pupils develop the tools they need to function in the wider world, for example they enjoy their weekly swimming sessions. Behaviour around both sites is calm. Occasionally, pupils fall below the school's expectations with their behaviour. When this occurs, staff consistently apply the school's behaviour policy. The school's warm and nurturing ethos provides a safe space to learn. Pupils who were previously anxious about attending school, learn to engage and be successful learners again.

What the school should improve

• The school is unclear in its expectations of how staff should develop pupils' oracy. As a result, sometimes, pupils are not enabled to communicate well. The school should implement its plans to develop oracy across the school so that pupils' communication skills improve.
• Suspensions for a small group of pupils remain high. This interrupts their learning and their progression through the curriculum. The school should continue its efforts to reduce repeat suspensions and review pupils' induction to the setting, so they quickly understand the school's expectations for behaviour.

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