Setting

Mrs Kerry Lilico Headteacher Grasmere Academy Grasmere Court Newcastle-upon-Tyne Tyne and Wear NE12 6TS

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Serious weaknesses first monitoring inspection of Grasmere Academy

Following my visit to your academy on 16 July 2014, 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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Serious weaknesses first monitoring inspection of Grasmere Academy

The inspection was the first monitoring inspection since the academy was judged to have serious weaknesses in April 2014. 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 headteacher and members of her team, members of the governing body including the Chair of the Governing Body, a representative of the local authority, a member of the North Tyneside Learning Trust and of the North Tyneside Academy Foundation. The North Tyneside Academy Foundation statement of action and the academy’s plans, including a specific mathematics plan were evaluated. I also visited classrooms and spoke with pupils about their work.

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The quality of leadership and management at the academy

 The leadership and governors at the academy, with effective support from the local authority and the North Tyneside Academy Foundation, have responded promptly to the judgements of the recent inspection. They are taking 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 566850 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: dmccarrick@cfbt.com appropriate action to address the points for improvement identified in the inspection report.  Leaders have worked with local partner schools, the local authority and the North Tyneside Academy Foundation to strengthen further their judgements about the quality of teaching and the accuracy of their assessments about pupils’ work. This has meant that that the academy is increasingly confident about the progress its pupils are making and is able to demonstrate this.

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The quality of leadership and management at the academy

 Data is used systematically to identify the needs of individual and groups of pupils, including those in receipt of support through the pupil premium, so that individual staff and, increasingly, middle leaders can target their work more effectively.  Governors are skilled and very well led. They have responded firmly to the recent inspection and meet fortnightly to assess progress. Governors display high levels of informed challenge and are very effectively holding staff to account for their work.  Although there is still work to be done, the headteacher is ensuring that middle leaders are increasingly effective in their roles. Supported by governors and senior staff, subject leaders are checking the work of teachers and other adults so that their teaching is more effective.  The North Tyneside Academy Foundation's statement of action is detailed and refers carefully to the areas of improvement identified in the recent

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The quality of leadership and management at the academy

inspection. It sets out clearly what needs to be done, by when and by whom. The expected impacts of actions are clearly present. However, the statement requires adaptation to ensure that it more specifically sets out the academy’s expectations of the roles that teaching assistants and other additional adults play in improving pupils’ learning.  The academy’s plans focus sharply on the areas for improvement identified in the inspection report and contain challenging targets for improving the quality of teaching. Helpfully, there is an additional plan aimed specifically at raising standards in mathematics. This is detailed and sets out what needs to be done and how the impact of actions will be monitored and measured.

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The quality of leadership and management at the academy

Following the monitoring inspection the following judgements were made:

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The quality of leadership and management at the academy

The academy’s action plans are fit for purpose.

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The quality of leadership and management at the academy

The sponsor’s statement of action is fit for purpose.

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The quality of leadership and management at the academy

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

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