Ranikhet Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 April 2026

Pupils feel safe and happy. They have positive relationships with their peers and staff. Pupils know who they can turn to if they have any worries. Pupils enjoy the school's ambitious curriculum. They talk enthusiastically about their learning and wider experiences that enrich this, such as crochet, football and singing. Most pupils know the school’s values well and celebrate them regularly. For example, they understand the importance of teamwork and kindness. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs identified quickly. Staff help pupils access learning successfully and work with external specialists to remove barriers faced by disadvantaged pupils, those with SEND and those known to social care. Children in the early years make a positive start. They play well together and thrive through a well-designed curriculum. Pupils enjoy their lessons and sustain their focus and attention on learning. Throughout the school, pupils increasingly learn the curriculum well and build appropriate knowledge and skills. However, at times, the curriculum is not adapted for pupils' learning as effectively as it should be. Some pupils do not build secure knowledge and skills across the curriculum. This means that they are not as secure in reading, writing and mathematics as they should be by the end of key stage 2. Pupils understand the importance of attending school. While pupils' attendance is improving, too many pupils do not attend school as regularly as they should. Generally, pupils behave well. They typically understand staff's high expectations for their conduct. Bullying is uncommon. If any issues arise, staff deal with these quickly and effectively. However, staff do not implement the school's behaviour policy consistently well. This means that some pupils disrupt the learning of others and do not have positive attitudes towards their own learning.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that their attendance strategy improves pupils' rates of attendance.
• Leaders should ensure that staff implement the behaviour policy consistently well, so that all pupils develop positive attitudes to their learning.
• Leaders should ensure that they further strengthen teaching, including adapt learning activities precisely for pupils who need additional support so that pupils make secure progress across the curriculum and attain well by the end of key stage 2.
• Leaders should ensure that pupils develop a deeper knowledge of the content of the personal development programme, to better prepare them for life in modern Britain.

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