Thomas Clarkson Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 January 2025

Pupils are proud of their school. They value the warm, inclusive environment. Pupils appreciate the genuine interest adults have in them as individuals. This helps build a culture based on strong bonds of trust and mutual respect. Despite a decline in the school's published outcomes in 2024, pupils know that leaders and staff want them to achieve the highest levels of success. The majority of pupils respond well to this. They concentrate and focus on their learning. Pupils now benefit from a more stable staffing compliment of subject experts. Consequently, pupils now produce work that is generally of a high standard and does not reflect this drop in performance. Most pupils behave well. They understand what the school expects of their conduct and how to meet these standards. Learning is rarely disrupted by pupils' behaviour. However, sometimes around school, some pupils find it difficult to consistently meet the school's high expectations. Pupils enjoy a broad range of opportunities to foster new interests and talents. Sports, performance and other general interest clubs are available. Pupils are enthusiastic about the offer. However, many clubs run at the same time. Some pupils get frustrated as they cannot access all the opportunities they would like.

What the school should improve

• The school has not ensured teachers have the knowledge to routinely check what pupils understand with the precision needed to accurately identify where pupils have gaps or misconceptions in their knowledge. Where this is the case, teachers are unable to make the necessary adaptations to their teaching and pupils do not learn the important knowledge the school intends. The school should ensure that staff have the expertise to identify weaknesses in learning accurately and adapt their teaching accordingly.
• Some staff do not apply the school's policy to manage behaviour as consistently as the school expects. This means that learning is sometimes disrupted, and around school, some pupils fail to meet the high standards set by the school. Some pupils are not rewarded for their work, conduct or contributions. The school and trust should ensure that all staff have the expertise in how to apply and then consistently enact the school's agreed behaviour policies.

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