Nine Maidens Alternative Provision Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 5 July 2022

Many pupils enter Nine Maidens disillusioned with education, having had negative experiences in the past. Staff at Nine Maidens aim to turn things around. They are successful. Staff get to know pupils well. They support pupils to work on what might be concerning them or might be a barrier to learning. There are clear routines that help pupils behave well. Staff have high aspirations that pupils will be successful in their studies. Pupils take part in different activities to widen their experience. The work of Nine Maidens means that pupils feel happy and safe at the school. Bullying is rare. Pupils learn to manage their own behaviour. They develop their character, increasing their confidence and self-belief. They produce high-quality work across a range of subjects. Pupils and their parents talk about how the school has 'changed their life'. Pupils are well prepared for the next step in their education.

What the school should improve

• Currently, there are some aspects of the primary curriculum that are inconsistent or not sequenced sufficiently. This means that in these aspects pupils do not systematically build the knowledge and skills in line with the school's high ambition. Leaders should continue to clarify the intent of the primary curriculum in line with the aspirations of the school. They should determine what pupils should know, understand and achieve by the time they leave, and eliminate inconsistencies.

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