Richard Rose Central Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 March 2025

Pupils are happy to attend this school. They wear the uniform with pride. Pupils behave extremely well. They are respectful of the rules that are put in place to help them to learn well. For instance, pupils listen attentively in lessons. They follow teachers' instructions quickly. There is rarely any disruption to learning. The school has cultivated a sense of fun and belonging alongside raising standards. For example, there was much healthy competition between the three house teams in the pancake flipping competition. Pupils publicly claim their 'golden ticket' as a reward for house points. This helps to motivate others to want to do their best too. The school's expectations of what pupils can achieve are exceptionally high. Pupils are beginning to rise to these high expectations and believe that they can achieve. They learn well across the curriculum and build a secure foundation of knowledge. Students in the sixth form act as excellent role models. Well-trained reading buddies support younger pupils with reading. Pupils enjoy taking part in an array of clubs such as art, football and 'STEM'. They benefit from trips to enhance their cultural awareness, for instance to the theatre.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, teaching approaches, including activity choices, do not help pupils to deepen their learning or build their independence. This affects how well some pupils achieve. The school should ensure that teaching approaches, including learning activities, enable pupils to engage in deep learning and achieve highly.
• There are inconsistencies in how well the school promotes opportunities for pupils to express themselves orally. This means that, sometimes, pupils lack confidence to express themselves verbally and take part in activities such as discussions and debates. This sometimes hinders pupils from deepening their understanding. The school should finalise its plans to ensure that pupils are equipped with the oracy skills that they need to be able to express themselves confidently so that they can explore different ideas and deepen their learning.

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