Outwood Academy City

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 26 November 2024

As a result of high-quality pastoral care, pupils at Outwood Academy City are safe and well cared for. Staff know the school and local community very well. The school makes decisions that are in the best interests of its pupils. There are high expectations for what pupils can achieve. Increasingly, pupils are rising to these expectations. It is an improving and inclusive school, where pupils are tolerant and proud of their diverse community. Many pupils behave well. They conduct themselves well around school and they work hard in lessons. Pupils have a clear understanding of the school's behaviour policy, and they think that it is fair. However, some pupils do not meet the school's high expectations. For some, this results in being removed from lessons or suspension from school. New leaders have begun to transform the culture in the school and their work to improve behaviour is having a positive impact. The school is committed to pupils' personal development. It offers them a wide range of opportunities, clubs and visits to develop their wider skills, such as teamwork and communication. For example, pupils can take part in musical theatre club, a range of sports clubs and charity fundraising events.

What the school should improve

• There is variation in the impact of the school's work to ensure that pupils attend school regularly, and too many pupils are persistently absent. As a result, too many pupils are missing out on the high-quality education on offer at the school. The school should strengthen its work, including working with the community, to ensure that pupils, especially disadvantaged pupils, attend school regularly.
• Some pupils do not behave as well as they should. At times, this disrupts learning and at social times makes some pupils feel uncomfortable. The school should develop its work to improve pupils' conduct at social times and reduce low-level disruption in lessons.
• There are some inconsistencies in the way the curriculum is delivered. As a result, pupils learn better in some subjects than in others. The school should ensure that the curriculum is delivered consistently well across all subjects, including the use of assessment to identify and address gaps in knowledge, so that pupils know more, remember more and make the progress through the curriculum that they are capable of.

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