Setting

Mrs R Johnson Principal Sarum Academy Westwood Road Salisbury SP2 9HS

p.1

Requires improvement: monitoring inspection visit to Sarum Academy

Following my visit to your school on 18 June 2015, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report the inspection findings. Thank you for the help you gave me and for the time you made available to discuss the actions you are taking to improve the school since the most recent section 5 inspection.

p.1

Requires improvement: monitoring inspection visit to Sarum Academy

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in January 2015. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. At its previous section 5 inspection in February 2013 the school was also judged to require improvement.

p.1

Requires improvement: monitoring inspection visit to Sarum Academy

Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. The school should take further action to:

p.1

Requires improvement: monitoring inspection visit to Sarum Academy

 ensure that curriculum team leaders fulfil their responsibilities in monitoring the quality of teaching and its impact on students’ progress.

p.1

Evidence

During the inspection, meetings were held with the Principal and other senior leaders to discuss the actions taken since the last inspection. The academy’s improvement plans and latest achievement data were evaluated. Tribal Kings Orchard, One Queen Street, Bristol BS2 0HQ T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01173115246 Direct F 01173150430 Direct email :Sara.Whalley@Tribalgroup.com

p.1

Context

A full team of teachers and curriculum team leaders has been put in place for the start of the autumn term.

p.2

Main findings

The Principal and senior leaders are absolutely clear about what improvements are needed in the academy and have already put actions in place to secure them. The initiatives introduced by the Principal and other senior leaders to improve the quality of teaching across the academy, as noted in the latest inspection report, have had greater impact in the time since the inspection. As a result, students’ achievement has improved significantly overall and for all groups of students, including those who are disadvantaged. Achievement is now good across a wide range of subjects. This summer’s examinations results are set to be much better than those in 2014. The achievement of students currently in Year 10 is on track to be better still.

p.2

Main findings

The improvements in teaching have been achieved through the relentless monitoring undertaken by senior leaders and the professional development of teachers matched well to the outcomes of this monitoring. The Principal and senior leaders now recognise that more needs to be done by curriculum team leaders to embed the improvements consistently across all subject areas. Good plans are in place to hold these team leaders to account more systematically.

p.2

Main findings

Leaders’ use rigorous tracking of students’ progress well to evaluate the impact of the improvements in teaching. Leaders plan to introduce well-thought-out assessment arrangements next year to take account of the national changes. Teachers now need to use their on-going assessments of students’ progress to match the work closely to individual and groups of students' needs.

p.2

Main findings

The sixth form curriculum is matched well to needs of students in the academy with a good balance of academic and vocational courses. The study programmes offered provide very good progression from students’ prior achievements. The academy also provides good on-going ‘wrap around care’ for sixth form students. Care now needs to be taken to ensure that all students have appropriate non-qualification activity and work experience matched well to individual programmes.

p.2

Main findings

Ofsted may carry out further monitoring inspections and, where necessary, provide further support and challenge to the school until its next section 5 inspection. We agreed that I would undertake a further visit in the autumn to work with curriculum team leaders.

p.2

External support

The academy has been working with little external support for some time. Following a recent meeting, it is now working with the Regional Schools Commissioner to find one or more schools to provide the academy with targeted support.

p.3

External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body, the Director of Children’s Services for Wiltshire, the education director for the Church of England Salisbury Diocese, the Department for Education and the Education Funding Agency.

p.3