The Elland Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 July 2023

Leaders are ambitious for pupils at The Elland Academy. They want pupils to return to mainstream schools or move to positive post-16 destinations. Most pupils join the school because they are at risk of repeated suspensions from their home school. Some pupils have been permanently excluded from other schools. Staff support pupils effectively to get back on track with their education. They guide pupils sensitively by 'shining a spotlight' on the reasons why they are placed in the school. This promotes reflection about their actions. Leaders have created a purposeful school environment. The school supports pupils from key stage 2 to key stage 4. Each key stage benefits from a separate part of the school building. The primary provision is small and self-contained. It has ample resources to meet younger pupils' needs well. The secondary provision is much larger. It occupies two floors, with each area having several well-equipped classrooms. There is a dedicated space for art and a well-stocked library. Most pupils feel happy at the school. Relationships between staff and pupils are very secure. Pupils feel they have someone they can speak to if they need support. The majority of pupils show improvements in their behaviour and attendance after they settle at the school. Pupils say there is no bullying in school, but if there were, staff would quickly sort it out.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have developed a core curriculum which focuses on English, mathematics and science. Pupils also study a range of vocational subjects. This means there are fewer academic subjects available to pupils. Leaders should further develop the curriculum to ensure that pupils can access a broader range of academic subjects.
• The attendance of most pupils shows demonstrable improvements from their starting points. However, overall, school attendance is too low. Too many pupils miss valuable learning time when they are not in school. Leaders must strengthen their approaches to promote regular attendance. They should further develop their work with parents to overcome any barriers to attendance to ensure that their children attend school regularly.

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