Richmond Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 January 2023

Pupils are happy and enjoy attending Richmond Academy. They quickly become part of the school community in this welcoming school. Pupils described the school as a friendly place where they feel cared for. Leaders have high expectations of pupils' learning and behaviour. Pupils enjoy positive relationships with their teachers and contribute to lessons with enthusiasm. Classrooms are calm places to learn. This helps pupils to achieve well. Pupils are respectful and kind towards others and do not disrupt their learning. There are very few incidents of bullying or poor behaviour. Leaders are swift to act and deal with bullying and name-calling effectively. This helps pupils to feel safe. Pupils can take part in many creative and sporting activities. They enjoy a wide range of clubs, such as bakery, art and dance. Leaders plan opportunities for pupils to be active citizens in their local community, for example the community clean-up project.

What the school should improve

• In the foundation subjects, teachers' checks on how well pupils are learning are not fully matched to the intended curriculum. As a result, pupils can miss learning something important without teachers knowing. Subject leaders should assure themselves that pupils are learning all the essential knowledge set out in the curriculum.
• A small number of pupils miss too much school. They miss valuable learning time, which negatively impacts on their achievement. Leaders should ensure that the attendance of these pupils improves so that they do not miss important learning.

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