Richard Barnes Academy
Williamson Avenue, Richard Barnes Academy, Peterborough, PE3 6BAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Richard Barnes Academy is an alternative provision school in Peterborough for ages 5 to 16. It is one of the 87 schools in Peterborough. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 1 October 2024, report published 10 November 2024
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 1 October 2024
Leaders and staff help pupils to 'be the best version of themselves' by creating a nurturing, purposeful and friendly environment. For example, they show patience when pupils struggle to focus or make good choices. Staff understand that pupils at Richard Barnes Academy need considerable support to build relationships, learn to trust adults and re-engage in education. Pupils have many opportunities to develop conversational skills, including during lunchtimes when staff eat and chat with them. Pupils learn that adults will not give up on them, which quickly helps them feel settled. Pupils feel safe and are safe here. All pupils get opportunities to catch up on missed learning. In lessons, teachers revisit material to help pupils retain information. Teachers tailor lessons to meet pupils' varied needs. Pupils' educational experiences help them earn important qualifications. They succeed when they return to mainstream schools. The school offers a variety of opportunities to broaden pupils' horizons, such as organising charity events and visits to religious sites and cultural landmarks. Older pupils appreciate their lessons about relationships and health. These lessons boost their confidence in staying safe and prepare them well for adult life.
What the school should improve
- Some staff are still getting to grips with the school's new approaches to teaching. As a result, not all lessons maximise pupils' opportunities to learn. The school should continue to train and support staff to implement the school's teaching approaches in a more consistent way.
- Opportunities for pupils to learn about and take on responsibilities are not fully organised and promoted. As a result, pupils do not consistently build their understanding of responsibility. The school should continue its work to clarify and promote opportunities for pupils to learn about responsibility, as part of the school's approach to character education.
Pupil numbers and mix
112 pupils on roll, with places for 160
Schools near Richard Barnes Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| Springwell Alternative Academy Spalding | 15 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding |
| OA - Nene Valley | 18 miles | Ofsted: Good |
| Springwell Alternative Academy Grantham | 28 miles | Ofsted: Good |
| OA - Cambridge | 30 miles | Ofsted: Good |
| Pilgrim Pathways School | 33 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding |
School details
- School type
- Academy alternative provision sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- THOMAS DEACON EDUCATION TRUST
- Age range
- 5 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Claire Everton
- Phone
- 01733978224
- Address
- Williamson Avenue, Richard Barnes Academy, Peterborough, PE3 6BA
- Local authority
- Peterborough
- URN
- 147892
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.