The Academy of St Nicholas

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 December 2022

Pupils at this school, including those in the sixth form, benefit from a broad and ambitious curriculum. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Teachers have high expectations of what pupils and students should achieve. They care about pupils and help them to do their best. In lessons and around the school, most pupils follow the routines and meet the high expectations set by staff. Teachers reinforce good behaviour with rewards, which pupils appreciate. Pupils, and students in the sixth form, told inspectors that they are happy and feel safe in school. When bullying does happen, staff are supportive and deal with it well. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm. Pupils are confident that if they have a problem, there will be someone to talk to, and they will receive the help they need. Pupils enjoy the school's personal-development curriculum. They are taught how to keep themselves safe, about healthy relationships and the value of diversity. They are able to attend a wide range of clubs and activities, including debating, gamers' club, basketball, pottery and foreign-language movie club.

What the school should improve

• Some teachers do not check pupils' knowledge and understanding as well as they could. As a result, some pupils continue to have misconceptions or gaps in their learning and are not fully ready to learn new content. Leaders should ensure that all teachers have the required expertise to identify when pupils are falling behind and to help them to catch up. This will allow pupils to build and remember a rich body of knowledge.
• A small minority of pupils do not follow school routines and misbehave during social times. Leaders should ensure that staff consistently apply the school's behaviour policy so that pupils behave well in classrooms and around the school.

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