Will Adams Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 26 November 2024

Pupils rekindle their passion and interest for learning at this school. They arrive with a history of low attendance and poor attitudes to learning. Many pupils also have significant social, emotional and mental health needs on entry. Staff ensure they get to know pupils quickly. This helps pupils to build warm and respectful relationships with staff. Staff identify pupils' barriers to learning and aspirations accurately. These support staff to create personalised programmes to prepare pupils for their next steps. Pupils feel safe and well supported at the school. They have trusted adults that they know will deal with any concerns they may have. Staff act as positive role models. They apply the school's well-designed systems calmly and consistently. As a result, pupils generally behave well. The school is happy and orderly. The school has designed a bespoke curriculum to provide pupils with the information and skills they need. Teachers enhance this with support for pupils to improve their resilience and strategies to regulate their own behaviour effectively. As a result, pupils usually learn well and have positive attitudes to learning. If pupils need extra support, teachers react swiftly. They use their knowledge of the pupils and the positive relationships they have with them to help them refocus and return to learning.

What the school should improve

• Sometimes, the activities that teachers select for pupils do not support pupils in applying the important skills and knowledge they learn. As a result, pupils learn the curriculum content but do not always deepen their understanding. The school must ensure that teachers design activities that allow pupils to apply and build on the curriculum content they learn.
• A small number of pupils are not always punctual to school, or to their lessons. They do not always use their time in school as effectively as they could. As a result, they miss out on opportunities to deepen and maximise their learning and do not always learn as well as they could. The school must ensure that pupils are supported to attend school and lessons on time so that they learn all the skills and knowledge they need.

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