Torlands Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 February 2024

This is a highly inclusive school. Pupils have complex medical needs. Committed staff provide excellent pastoral support. Pupils and staff forge highly respectful relationships as a result. Staff ensure that pupils re-engage in academic learning swiftly after having extended periods of absence at their mainstream schools. Pupils make remarkable improvements to their attendance. Pupils receive a good education. The curriculum is suitably broad. A range of curriculum pathways prepares pupils well for their next stage of education. Pupils behave superbly in lessons and engage fully in school life. Pupils rebuild their resilience to learn exceptionally well. Many thrive academically. The school's nurturing approach is exceptionally successful in developing pupils' character. Staff value pupils' every achievement. Well-thought-out activities, what the school calls 'Torland tasters', enrich pupils' learning brilliantly. Clubs extend to pupils who learn online, for instance 'pet-pals'. Pupils learn to be part of a team through a range of outdoor activities including 'beach cleaning' days. The school makes a positive difference to pupils' lives. Every parent or carer who responded to Ofsted's online questionnaire would recommend the school. Typical responses include 'my child is flourishing', 'excellent communication and care' and 'amazing school'.

What the school should improve

• At times, parts of sequences of work do not meet pupils' needs consistently well. This is because teaching is not broken down well enough, or it is not based on precise knowledge of what pupils need to learn next. This slows a minority of pupils' learning down. The trust must ensure that teaching across all classes, subjects and sequences of work enables pupils to master the curriculum content so that all pupils achieve highly.

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