Oasis Academy Don Valley

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 May 2026

The majority of pupils enjoy attending Oasis Academy Don Valley. The school is improving after a period of turbulence since its previous inspection. Most pupils recognise the positive changes that are being made to the standards of behaviour and the quality of the curriculum, alongside the wider opportunities that they are able to access. These improvements are gradually beginning to benefit pupils, their learning and achievement. However, in many aspects these are more embedded in the primary phase. Pupils in the primary phase enjoy playing and learning in the company of their peers. They form secure relationships with their friends and teachers. These help them to feel a sense of belonging and community. Children in the early years secure a positive start to their time in school. Leaders are taking positive steps to secure improved behaviour from pupils across the school. These have already resulted in significant change, including pupils receiving more rewards for good conduct and fewer sanctions for misbehaviour. Bullying is rare and not tolerated. Despite this, sometimes leaders’ high expectations are not reinforced by staff consistently. When this happens, pupils’ low-level misbehaviour is not addressed and continues to interrupt learning. Some pupils achieve well. Children in the early years are well prepared for key stage 1. Outcomes in the phonics screening check and the Year 4 multiplication check are generally positive. Often, disadvantaged pupils achieve similarly to their peers in other schools. However, overall, pupils’ achievement is not high enough and has been low over time. Leaders' actions are resulting in the youngest pupils being better prepared for their next steps than those in older year groups. For these pupils, the steps being taken to improve the curriculum, teaching and attendance are not sufficiently embedded and have not yet had the positive impact that leaders intend them to.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that the school’s curriculum is consistently well taught across subjects and phases.
• Leaders should embed recent and planned changes in the school’s attendance strategy to secure improved attendance of pupils, particularly in the secondary phase.
• Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently implement the school’s planned support for pupils with SEND in lessons.
• Leaders should ensure that staff consistently close gaps in pupils’ knowledge and skills quickly, strengthening their understanding of the curriculum and achievement in national assessments
• Leaders should ensure that changes to improve the school are rigorously checked, evaluated and adjusted so that improvements, such as those in standards of behaviour, are built upon and sustained over time.

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