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Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Ann Donaghy Headteacher Noel Baker Academy Derwent Campus Bracknell Drive Derby DE24 0BR

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Ofsted visit to Noel Baker Academy

Following my visit with Peter Stonier, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 3 November 2020, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the visit’s findings. Thank you for the time you made available to discuss your actions since September 2020, when the government expected all schools to open fully to all pupils.

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Ofsted visit to Noel Baker Academy

This visit was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended) and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for visiting schools while routine inspections are temporarily suspended.

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Ofsted visit to Noel Baker Academy

Ofsted’s visits to schools during the autumn term are not inspections. We are not giving graded judgements. We did not undertake the usual range of inspection activities and were unable to check other sources of evidence, such as visits to lessons or looking at pupils’ work. The content of this letter gives an overview of our discussions about what has happened in your school this term.

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Ofsted visit to Noel Baker Academy

During the visit, we spoke to you and the two deputy headteachers. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

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Context

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s education system is managing the return to full education for pupils, following an extended break in formal schooling due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

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Context

In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

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Context

 approximately 1,200 schools across all Ofsted grades (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate)  maintained schools, academies and free schools, special schools and centres of alternative provision, including those in cities, and coastal, town or rural communities.

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Context

The information from this visit will feed into Ofsted’s national reporting so that the insights can be shared with the government and the education sector. We did not find any significant concerns during the visit. In such a case, an inspection report would be published on our website and available to parents and carers.

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Context

We did not consider your response to COVID-19 during the spring and summer terms 2020, when the school was not open to all pupils.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 All pupils returned to school on 9 September 2020.  Pupils’ attendance is above the normal attendance for this time of year. At the time of the visit, a Year 7 year-group ‘bubble’ and a Year 11 group ‘bubble’ were isolating.  All pupils are studying their usual range of subjects. The practical aspects of some subjects are not taught yet. You are keen for pupils to return to their usual curriculum by summer term 2021.  Teachers have assessed all pupils. Their checks have revealed that some pupils are behind in their learning. Teachers have created ‘accelerated learning’ plans to address pupils’ learning gaps.  Pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 have taken a reading-age test. Some pupils’ reading skills have regressed. These pupils are receiving extra support to help them catch up.  Leaders have a system to deliver the curriculum remotely. Some pupils in Years 7 and 11 who are currently isolating are accessing their learning in this

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

way. Many pupils have limited access to appropriate electronic devices. Leaders are finding ways to address this barrier for pupils.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy. I am copying this letter to the chair of the board of trustees, the chief executive officer of the L.E.A.D. multi-academy trust, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Derby local authority. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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