Setting

Mrs E Davies Principal Ormiston Maritime Academy Westward Ho Grimsby Lincolnshire DN34 5AH

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Academy

Following my visit to your academy on 5 March 2013, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the outcome and inspection findings. Thank you for the help you gave during the inspection and for the time you made available to discuss the actions which have been taken since the academy’s most recent section 5 inspection.

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Academy

The inspection was the first monitoring inspection since the academy was judged to have serious weaknesses in December 2012. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Evidence

During this inspection, meetings were held with the Principal, senior leaders and the Chair of the Governing Body who is also a representative of the sponsor. The sponsor’s statement of action and the academy’s action plan were evaluated.

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Context

Since the section 5 inspection in December 2012, there have been some changes in the senior leadership team, including the part-time secondment of a vice-principal from another academy in the Ormiston Trust group. CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566 939 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: glaw@cfbt.com

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The Principal has set a clear direction for school improvement. Planned actions are linked appropriately to the areas for improvement identified in the section 5 inspection report. Responsibilities are well understood across the wider leadership team because internal communication is effective. All senior leaders are clear about priorities and know that the Principal and governors have high expectations of them.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

Governance benefits from the wealth of relevant experience of its members which means they can, and do, ask challenging questions about the academy’s progress in tackling weaknesses. The Chair of the Governing Body, a representative of the sponsor, also chairs the fortnightly Post-Ofsted Board, which keeps a close eye on operational matters linked to improvement. Feedback from this group to the full governing body and sponsors ensures regular communication is maintained between stakeholders. Members of the senior leadership team report that this combination of governors and sponsors, the Post-Ofsted Board, holds them to account robustly.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

Support from the Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT) is significant in providing a professional network highly valued by the academy’s leaders. Ease of access to professionals skilled in specific subjects or aspects of work through the OAT is particularly important given Grimsby’s geographical isolation from similar schools. Moving additional support into the academy in various forms has happened quickly, facilitated by the Principal’s decisive lead and OAT’s responsiveness.

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

Following the monitoring inspection the following judgements were made:

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The academy’s action plan is fit for purpose

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

The sponsor’s statement of action is fit for purpose

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The quality of leadership and management at the school

I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State, the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of the Ormiston Academies Trust. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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