Swinton Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 27 June 2023

Pupils are happy to attend this inclusive school. They are considerate to each other and to staff. Pupils routinely behave well in class and concentrate in lessons. They say that bullying rarely occurs and that if it does, teachers deal with it quickly. Pupils are taught to be 'ready, respectful and safe'. They are taught how to keep themselves safe and learn about local risks, such as those found at canals and railway lines. The school has high expectations for pupils. Leaders want pupils to have the highest aspirations. Pupils receive a rich variety of experiences, helping them to prepare for their next steps in education, training or employment. Pupils enjoy well-planned lessons. Pupils sometimes struggle to remember some of what has been taught. Pupils develop their reading skills through the school's 'everyone reads in class' (ERIC) strategy. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported by teachers, who make sure these pupils have the same opportunities as their peers. Pupils have warm relationships with teachers and value this strongly. In the words of one sixth-form student, 'It is the reason I decided to study here.' Pupils make meaningful contributions to school life through a school council. They have opportunities to join many clubs and activities.

What the school should improve

• The delivery of the curriculum does not consistently help pupils to make connections between what they are currently learning and what they have learned previously. This means that pupils sometimes struggle to link knowledge together and think deeper about key concepts. Leaders should ensure that the implementation of the curriculum allows pupils to go beyond recalling facts, and allows pupils to develop a deep body of knowledge in all subjects.
• Assessment in key stage 3 is not consistently well-matched to the knowledge identified in the curriculum. This means that sometimes teachers are unclear on how pupils are progressing through the curriculum and how to support pupils to improve. Leaders should ensure that assessment in key stage 3 is closely matched to the curriculum, and that this provides clarity on the progress that pupils are making.

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