Staindrop Academy

Inspection of Staindrop Academy Cleatlam Lane, Staindrop, Darlington, County Durham DL2 3JU

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good

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Overall effectiveness Good

Previous inspection grade Not previously inspected under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 6 and 7 October 2021

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staindrop Academy is a caring school. Pupils are proud to attend the school. They feel valued and respected by the staff. Relationships are at the core of the school’s values. As one pupil said to an inspector, ‘You can be friends with anyone really.’ Pupils know that the staff have high expectations.

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What is it like to attend this school?

A calm and purposeful atmosphere in lessons allows pupils to focus on their work. Pupils can speak with confidence about what they are learning now and remember what has come before on their learning journey. One pupil described lessons to an inspector by saying, ‘We are always learning something new.’

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What is it like to attend this school?

The positive environment in the school is reflected in how pupils behave and conduct themselves. Bullying is not tolerated in this school by staff or pupils. All the pupils spoken to feel they can approach and talk to any member of staff if they are worried or concerned about anything.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils in this school are offered a broad range of opportunities that allow them to follow their interests and enjoy new experiences.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff invest time into every pupil’s development to ensure they leave Staindrop well prepared for the next stage in their life.

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better?

Leaders and governors are focused on pupils. They have a clear drive to provide the best experience for all pupils. Leaders have put in place a curriculum which is broad and balanced. They have developed a curriculum that reflects the school values. The vast majority of leaders have planned and identified the knowledge they want pupils to learn over time. This helps pupils to learn in a supportive and well-ordered manner.

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better?

Leaders are fully aware that the subject of geography requires more attention to planning.

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better?

Teachers know their subjects in depth. They have a detailed understanding of the content and explain things well. Pupils trust the staff and understand that what is being taught is important. In some instances, pupils are moved on to more complex content too quickly.

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better?

Staff and leaders are supported through well-structured and comprehensive training. Leaders have ensured that all staff are aware of the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Teachers use their knowledge of pupils’ needs to plan activities that are accessible for every pupil in the class. The monitoring of the effectiveness of the plans to support the pupils in class is not yet fully developed. Teachers and support staff work closely together to support pupils. 6 and 7 October 2021

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Leaders and staff make their expectations for every pupil very clear. Clear behaviour policies mirror these high expectations. Pupils have real pride and a sense of belonging to the school. They see it as their school and take pride in the values and high level of care the school provides. Pupils believe that everyone in the school and society should be treated equally and with respect. In lessons, pupils listen attentively and engage with the teachers. Pupils are proud of their work and speak with detail about how they feel supported in their learning.

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The school provides a vibrant range of wider opportunities for pupils to explore beyond their studies. Pupils enjoy the diverse clubs that are on offer. Leaders know which pupils have attended an activity. Pupils have a strong voice in the school. Leaders listen carefully to the pupils and work together to make the school better. Pupils deliver assemblies and provide support for each other.

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Careers guidance is a strength of the school. The school ensures that all pupils receive well-informed, impartial advice that is guided by the ‘Gatsby benchmarks’. Pupils have regular contact with a wide variety of education providers and are encouraged to make aspirational career choices. The school meets the requirements of the Baker Clause, which requires schools to provide students in Years 8 to 13 with information about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships.

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Pupils and staff feel supported. Leaders have created an environment that is built on collaboration. Leaders and governors do their best to ensure that staff feel supported and valued. Teachers appreciate the actions leaders take to allow them to focus on teaching by cutting out unnecessary extra workload.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff receive regular training and updates. The training helps staff to spot pupils that may be at risk of harm. All staff in the school are confident that they can always speak to leaders if they have any concerns. Pupils are confident that they can speak to any member of staff if they have any fears or worries.

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Safeguarding

Leaders follow up concerns and work with the relevant agencies in a timely manner to keep pupils safe.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 In the vast majority of subjects, the curriculum is planned and sequenced in detail. However, in some instances, pupils are moved on to more complex concepts too quickly. Leaders need to ensure that teachers across all subject areas use assessment information consistently well to check how well pupils have learned the essential knowledge before moving on. 6 and 7 October 2021

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 Leaders and staff know the pupils very well. However, the overview of how the needs of specific groups of pupils are met in lessons and in additional opportunities the school offers does not provide the detail required for informing leaders’ decisions. Leaders need to further refine the systems which track and monitor pupils both in lessons and when participating in additional activities.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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How can I feed back my views?

If you are the school and you are not happy with the inspection or the report, you can complain to Ofsted .

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 6 and 7 October 2021

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School details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this school

 The school is smaller than the average-sized secondary school.  The school is one of seven schools in the Advanced Learning Partnership Trust.  The school currently uses one alternative provider, East Durham College.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school leaders, and have taken that into account in their evaluation.  Inspectors met with the executive headteacher, head of school and other members of the senior leadership team, subject leaders and the special educational needs coordinator. Inspectors also held meetings with leaders responsible for attendance, behaviour, personal development and careers, and the designated safeguarding lead. 6 and 7 October 2021

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 Meetings were held with the chair of the board of trustees and members of the local governing body. Inspectors also reviewed a sample of minutes from local governing body meetings.  Inspectors did deep dives in these subjects: English, science, history and computing. They met with subject leaders, carried out lesson visits, spoke to teachers, spoke to pupils about their learning and looked at a sample of pupils’ work.  An inspector met with the designated safeguarding lead. The single central record was also scrutinised. Inspectors reviewed the school’s safeguarding records.  A range of documentation provided by the school was reviewed. This included the school improvement plan, curriculum documentation and school policies.  Inspectors considered the views given in Ofsted’s online surveys from 99 pupils and 25 members of staff. The 61 responses to Ofsted’s Parent View survey were also considered. An inspector also met with three parents.

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Inspection team

Richard Jones, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Carl Sugden Ofsted Inspector 6 and 7 October 2021

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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