Oasis Academy Arena

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 April 2026

Pupils experience a welcoming and inclusive school. Leaders take the responsibility of serving their community seriously. Pupils build positive relationships with staff and each other, creating a warm and supportive community. Staff take time to understand pupils’ individual circumstances. Pupils know that if they have any worries, they can share them. Staff take prompt, effective action to address issues, including any bullying, so pupils feel and are kept safe. Many pupils face significant barriers to learning. A large proportion are disadvantaged and many pupils join at different points in the year. There are also a high number of pupils who speak English as an additional language, each at a different stage of learning English. The school takes careful account of each pupil's individual circumstances. For example, some pupils benefit from extra support with settling in to school life through onsite provision delivered in partnership with the local authority. Additionally, many pupils benefit from extra support to improve their reading, writing and communication. Strong pastoral approaches, including the work of the Oasis hub, which is attached to the school, help pupils to manage their wellbeing and feel ready to learn. The support for families that the school provides means that many parents and carers are positive about the school. Over time, pupils have not achieved as well as they could have. Leaders have responded to this and have reset expectations. Improvements to the curriculum and teaching are starting to have a positive impact on the achievement of pupils currently in the school. Most pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, learn well. A small number of pupils still experience some variation in how well the curriculum and teaching promote their learning. There is a comprehensive programme for personal development that all pupils benefit from. Pupils also benefit from well-planned careers guidance, which gives them a clear understanding of the world of work. Pupils' attendance and punctuality are starting to improve. They are now attending more regularly than previously, although leaders recognise there is still further work to do.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that work to strengthen consistency in the quality of teaching is embedded, both to secure and deepen pupils’ knowledge and ensure that pupils make as much progress through the curriculum as they can.
• Leaders should continue to support teachers to use formative assessment successfully to ensure that any gaps that pupils have in their understanding are addressed swiftly.
• Leaders should ensure that actions to strengthen achievement across all subjects are fully embedded and continue to translate into improved outcomes for all pupils.
• Leaders should continue to develop their strategies to ensure that recent improvements in pupils' levels of attendance are sustained.

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