Outwood Academy Kirkby

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 May 2025

Pupils are well cared for at Outwood Academy Kirkby. They are safe and enjoy good relationships with staff. The school is aspirational for pupils to succeed in all areas of their education. It has worked well to strengthen the curriculum considerably. As a result, pupils' achievement is improving significantly. The majority of pupils behave well. They try hard in lessons and conduct themselves well around school. There are very high expectations for pupils' behaviour and well-established routines that support good behaviour. These are well understood by pupils and applied fairly by staff. However, a minority of pupils often do not meet the school's behaviour expectations. This leads to some disruption to learning and school life. A significant number of pupils are frequently asked to leave lessons or are suspended from school. The school provides well-considered opportunities for pupils to develop their talents and interests. These include a range of sports clubs and a weekly trip to the local swimming pool. Many pupils also take part in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, learning new skills and volunteering in the community. The school has recently introduced a pupil parliament. This provides pupils with the chance to represent their peers and gain leadership experience.

What the school should improve

• The curriculum is not planned coherently or delivered consistently well in some subjects. When the curriculum is poorly designed or when teaching is less effective, pupils' learning is less secure and they do not achieve as well as they could. The school should make sure that the curriculum is structured precisely in all subjects and that staff have the expertise to deliver the curriculum effectively.
• A significant minority of pupils are frequently suspended from school because they do not meet the school's behaviour expectations. These pupils miss too many days of school. Furthermore, at times, the behaviour of these pupils disrupts the learning of others. The school should make sure that it supports pupils to meet its behaviour expectations and that all pupils behave well and demonstrate positive attitudes to their education.
• Too many pupils are absent from school too often. These pupils do not benefit from the curriculum or the wider experiences that the school offers. The school should ensure that it works effectively with pupils and their families, particularly pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, so that everyone involved understands the importance of attending school frequently, therefore reducing absence.

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