UET Pathfinder Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 2 July 2024

This provision has changed significantly in recent years. The school now takes pupils for much longer periods than before. This has resulted in changes to the curriculum with the development of curriculum 'pathways'. However, what pupils should learn is not yet fully thought through. There is variability in how effective teaching is. Consequently, some pupils do not achieve as well as they should. Pupils have been without a school for a variety of reasons. The school expects them to work hard and achieve. Those pupils who attend regularly do this. Their written work demonstrates the progress they make. However, too many pupils are frequently absent and so do not access education. Pupils who do attend regularly develop the confidence to participate in learning, often for the first time in a while. They learn how to behave and be good members of a school community. Some pupils successfully return to mainstream schools. Others stay in the school and gain nationally accredited qualifications, including GCSEs in mathematics, English, art, and other subjects. Relationships between pupils and staff are positive. Staff use the school's policy consistently when dealing with challenging behaviour. Pupils are clear about expectations. The calm reaction of staff when pupils are angry or upset helps most pupils quickly get back to learning.

What the school should improve

• The redesign of the curriculum is incomplete. It is not yet clear in the long-term what pupils should learn and in what order for all subjects. The school needs to ensure that the knowledge that pupils should learn, and the order they should learn it, is identified precisely in all subjects, to help pupils build their knowledge over time.
• There is variation in the effectiveness of teaching around the school. Some staff do not use assessment to adjust their teaching appropriately. As a result, some pupils do not always build effectively on their previous learning and secure the knowledge they need to move on to new learning. The school needs to ensure that all teachers use assessment effectively to inform their planning and ensure that the curriculum is implemented consistently well across subjects and key stages.
• Too many pupils miss time in school through absence and/or suspension. This means that they are not learning. The school needs to do further work to improve some pupils' attendance and behaviour.

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