Newmarket Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 July 2023

Most pupils enjoy attending Newmarket Academy. They develop strong friendships. They enjoy trips, visits and the visitors who come into school. Pupils learn about different careers. On the second day of the inspection, for instance, a team from the United States Air Force talked to girls about careers in science and technology. Pupils visit a local college. Consequently, pupils are well prepared for the next stage in their education or employment. There are many opportunities for pupils to develop their leadership skills through the school council and a range of ambassador roles. There are many popular sporting clubs as well as musical productions. The school runs foreign exchange visits. Pupils can take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. These opportunities increase pupils' confidence and widen their range of experiences. The majority of pupils are keen to do well. They work hard. They attend well. They treat each other and adults with respect. They are therefore frustrated that the behaviour of a minority of pupils sometimes interrupts their learning in lessons. All pupils access a broad and engaging curriculum. Pupils in the Polaris unit receive a bespoke curriculum that meets their needs so they successfully achieve well.

What the school should improve

• Some teachers do not know how to match and adapt activities precisely to the needs of a range of pupils. As a result, there are gaps in some pupils' learning. Leaders should ensure that teachers receive the training and support they need to match work consistently to pupils' needs.
• While many teachers consistently apply the school's behaviour policy, some do not. This means that pupils are not always clear about what is expected of them, and some do not behave well enough in lessons. Leaders should continue their work to improve behaviour and ensure that teachers are provided with training so that they all understand expectations and follow the school's behaviour policy consistently. Leaders should make regular checks to ensure this continues to make a positive difference to behaviour throughout the school.
• Some pupils do not value their education highly and this affects their motivation in lessons. Rewards are not always consistently awarded or sufficiently engaging. Leaders should ensure that positive behaviour is rewarded effectively and that opportunities to show all pupils the value of learning are built into the wider curriculum.

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