Shirebrook Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 29 April 2025

The school has continued to raise its expectations for pupils' achievement. Staff promote 'a community of inspiration, excellence and opportunities for all to grow'. The school is ambitious for all pupils. The rapid improvements made by the school over the last few years have continued at pace. Pupils benefit from a broad, well-organised curriculum that meets their needs and interests. Many pupils now say that they enjoy their lessons. The school has high expectations of pupils' behaviour. Most pupils have responded by following the school's rules and routines and behaving well. As a result, lessons are generally calm and productive. There are strong relationships between staff and pupils. Pupils are known well by staff. They feel safe and are generally happy at school. Pupils know who to speak to if they do have concerns and they are confident that they will be listened to. On the rare occasions when bullying happens staff, deal with it swiftly and effectively. Pupils are encouraged to take part in additional activities to enhance their learning further. An interesting range of educational visits adds to the taught curriculum. Opportunities such as trips abroad build pupils' cultural capital and develop their understanding of the world.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, the curriculum is not implemented consistently well. What pupils need to know and remember is not always clear or prioritised in lessons. As a result, pupils struggle to recall the important knowledge they need. The school should ensure that teachers consistently provide learning opportunities to help pupils secure the key knowledge they need to succeed as well as they can.
• Teachers have not been fully equipped to ensure that the needs of pupils with SEND are considered when planning and delivering lessons. The school's pedagogical approaches, such as 'quality first teaching', are not fully embedded. As a result, some pupils with SEND do not secure the important knowledge they need to make strong progress though the curriculum. The school should ensure that staff are supported to adapt learning when needed so that all pupils can achieve well.
• The SMSC aspects of the personal development curriculum are not taught consistently well across the school. As a result, pupils do not have a secure understanding of religions and cultures in order to fully appreciate and respect difference in the world. The school should ensure that the personal development programme is delivered consistently so that pupils secure the important knowledge they need for life in modern Britain.

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