Setting

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

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Marie Dillon Principal Oasis Academy Oldham Hollins Road Oldham Greater Manchester OL8 4JZ

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Requires improvement monitoring inspection of Oasis Academy Oldham

This letter sets out the findings from the monitoring inspection of your school that took place on 22 June 2023, on behalf of His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills. The monitoring inspection was carried out under section 8(2) of the Education Act 2005 and took place because the school has received a judgement of requires improvement at its previous graded (section 5) inspection.

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Requires improvement monitoring inspection of Oasis Academy Oldham

During the inspection, I discussed with you and other senior leaders, the national director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the multi-academy trust (MAT), and a representative of the local authority, the actions that have been taken to improve the school since the most recent graded inspection. We discussed the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also met with pupils and staff, reviewed curriculum documentation, visited lessons, and reviewed a sample of pupils’ work. I have considered all of this in coming to my judgement.

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progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the school to

The school should take further action to:

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progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the school to

 ensure that teachers are fully equipped to identify and remedy pupils’ gaps in knowledge so that pupils can learn well over time.

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Main findings

Since the last inspection, you have worked closely with MAT leaders and your leadership team to establish clear and measurable improvement priorities. You have redefined the roles of your leadership team and added additional leadership capacity where needed. For example, you have improved leaders’ oversight of the support provided to pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Throughout this time, you have acted strategically to target areas of weakness in the quality of education that pupils receive while being mindful of implications on staff’s workload and well-being.

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Main findings

Along with other leaders, you have acted swiftly to address the weaknesses in the design and organisation of the curriculum. Subject leaders have made appropriate use of the expertise within the MAT to design an ambitious curriculum for pupils. This curriculum meets the needs of pupils at Oasis Academy Oldham well.

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Main findings

Teachers are increasing their subject-specific expertise through a well-considered programme of training and coaching. As a result, teachers are better equipped to design learning activities that support pupils to develop their knowledge and understanding effectively. Subject leaders are supported well by senior leaders to check on how well the curriculum is being delivered. As a result, leaders have recognised that in some curriculum areas there have been more rapid improvements than in others. As part of their quality assurance processes, leaders have identified those elements of strong practice that should be spread more widely.

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Main findings

While your work to improve the curriculum is beginning to have a positive impact on pupils’ learning, you recognise that there is work to do to address the historic gaps in pupils’ knowledge. This is particularly the case for older pupils. As a result, pupils’ attainment in some subjects is not as strong as it should be.

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Main findings

You have maintained a sharp focus on supporting those pupils who find reading more difficult. Leaders have ensured that the deficits in these pupils’ reading knowledge are swiftly diagnosed and that suitable support is provided by staff. This is helping these pupils to catch up quickly with their peers. Leaders are in the early stages of developing a strategy to promote the love of reading across the school. However, it is too early to see the full impact of this work.

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Main findings

Leaders are ambitious for pupils with SEND. They are determined that pupils with SEND have access to the same ambitious curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities as their classmates. Nonetheless, you recognise that there is further work to do to ensure that all staff are making suitable adaptations to the delivery of the curriculum so that these pupils can be successful.

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Main findings

The previous inspection report noted that, while a new behaviour system had been implemented, it was not yet effective in improving the behaviour of all pupils. You and other leaders have maintained a strong focus on high standards of behaviour. As a result, you have now established a calm and purposeful atmosphere across the school. Many pupils spoke of the positive difference that this has made to their school experience.

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Main findings

Leaders offer a wide range of support to those pupils who struggle to manage their own behaviour. This includes seeking to identify and address any underlying barriers to learning, as well as offering pupils opportunities to talk about and reflect on their actions. This is helping to reduce the number of incidents that result in pupils being suspended from school.

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Main findings

While most of the support has been provided by the MAT, you have been proactive in seeking external support when necessary. For example, you commissioned an external audit to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the provision for pupils with SEND. You have used the findings from this audit to implement ongoing improvements to the support that you provide for pupils with SEND.

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Main findings

I am copying this letter to the chair of the board of trustees and the CEO of the Oasis Community Learning multi-academy trust, the Department for Education's regional director and the director of children's services for Oldham. This letter will be published on the Ofsted reports website.

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