The Dean Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 27 January 2026

Pupils at the Dean Academy are positive about their school. They speak highly of the lessons where teachers help them to learn and remember the curriculum. Pupils appreciate it when teachers give feedback about their work so that they can make improvements. However, pupils are rightly frustrated that this is not their experience in all lessons. Consequently, pupils are not achieving as highly as they should in all subjects and in all their chosen academic qualifications. Staff at the school get to know pupils well. They quickly identify the individual needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Support is then provided. This is particularly effective for pupils who attend EPIC, the specially resourced provision for pupils with SEND. Where pupils have other individual needs, staff plan and adapt support to meet these effectively. This helps pupils feel safe and cared for. Pupils typically attend well. They value the school’s higher expectations for behaviour as this makes the school calm. Pupils know that bullying is not acceptable. They are increasingly prepared to ‘call it out’ and appreciate it when staff act quickly to help them resolve issues. Pupils are well prepared for adult life. Those who have taken on leadership roles are proud of the contributions they are making to the school. Celebrations of success, such as the reward assemblies, remind pupils of the importance of being a good citizen. The house competitions and the range of extra-curricular clubs help pupils to develop their talents and interests. The trips and visits offered bring the curriculum to life. The Deanstock summer music festival is a particular highlight for the whole school community.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that highly effective teaching is embedded across the school so that all groups of pupils progress well across the curriculum. • Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment strategies to identify what pupils know and can do. This information should then be used to adapt teaching so that pupils build on their prior learning and achieve well. • Leaders should ensure that teachers have the expertise they need to support pupils to produce high-quality written work so that pupils can achieve highly in all subjects and qualifications. • Leaders and those responsible for governance should evaluate the impact of school improvement strategies to ensure that their vision is fully realised and is having the intended positive impact for pupils.

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