Ormiston Horizon Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 November 2023

There are high expectations for pupils at Ormiston Horizon Academy. All pupils understand and show the values of respect, resilience and responsibility. Pupils appreciate the positive environment of their school. Teachers treat them as individuals and they welcome this. Pupils spoke to inspectors and talked openly about their positive relationships with staff. Pupils say they can 'be who they want to be' in this inclusive community. The school has high expectations for pupils' behaviour. Lessons begin and end in a calm and orderly manner. Pupils know they can report any behaviour issues, which staff deal with rapidly. Bullying is rare. When it occurs, staff take appropriate action to deal with it. Pupils know that inappropriate language is not acceptable and report any incidences swiftly. The school prioritises pupils' personal development. Staff support and encourage pupils' well-being and mental health very well. Pupils take part in a range of enrichment activities such as chess, girls' football and cadets. Pupils represent the community on the local authority's Youth Council. Pupil reading leaders support younger pupils in school and in a local primary school. Empowering pupils to support and guide younger pupils and be active citizens in the community is working well.

What the school should improve

• The school has not ensured that teachers consistently check that pupils understand what has been learned and what they can remember. This means that gaps in pupils' knowledge are not identified and so are not always addressed. The school should ensure that teachers are consistently aware of what pupils know and can do and adapt their teaching accordingly to close any gaps.
• Sometimes, opportunities to use more demanding and complex learning activities with pupils are not taken. This means that some learning does not allow pupils to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. The school should ensure that, across the school, different approaches to learning give pupils the opportunities to develop a greater depth of knowledge.
• Too many pupils are absent each day. This means pupils miss too much learning, which limits their progress. The school should further its work with parents and external agencies to secure more regular attendance for all pupils.

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