Heritage Academy

Inspection of Heritage Academy 327 Moseley Road, Birmingham B12 0DX

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

Does the school meet the independent school standards?

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have created a special place where all pupils are welcomed, nurtured and safe. Pupils enjoy school and attend well. They are punctual and are ready to learn.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school’s core values, including honesty, respect and tolerance, are well embedded and modelled by every member of the school community. This creates a strong foundation where differences in faith, belief and background are celebrated.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The caring relationships between staff and pupils are at the heart of the school. The high expectations underpin pupils’ exemplary behaviour. They say that there is no bullying and that unkind behaviours are extremely rare. Pupils are confident that staff would resolve any issues.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils learn exceptionally well across the curriculum. This is because teachers’ subject knowledge is strong, and they teach content in a logical order. This means that pupils learn and remember more because new learning builds on what they already know. Pupils engage well in work that challenges them. Reading is given the highest priority. Pupils are proud of their achievements and well prepared for their future steps.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Opportunities alongside the taught curriculum are extensive. Pupils enjoy activities including chess, archery and skiing. They say that these experiences develop their social skills and resilience.

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better?

Leaders are aspirational and want the very best for all pupils. They ensure that every pupil achieves their full personal potential through the provision of a broad and balanced curriculum. This is brought to life by highly skilled specialists.

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better?

Pupils learn exceptionally well in all subjects. This is because teachers carefully consider what pupils need to know and the order in which it needs to be taught. This means that pupils can make connections and build secure knowledge. Pupils therefore learn and remember more. Pupils who need additional help are identified quickly and supported with appropriate and effective interventions.

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better?

Core subjects, such as English and mathematics, are remarkably successful. Over time, pupils develop a range of literary devices, present arguments strongly with supporting evidence and write with increasing sophistication. Pupils read often across a wide range of genres. They say that reading helps them to become better writers because it develops their vocabulary. In mathematics, pupils attempt complex equations with increasing confidence, remember skills learned and can confidently apply these in other areas of the curriculum, for example by performing calculations in science to identify the concentrates in liquid solutions. 17 to 19 October 2023 Behaviour is exemplary. Leaders set extremely high standards around behaviour, which are underpinned by the Islamic faith and fundamental British values. These expectations are clear and understood by all. Staff apply the behaviour policy with consistency, and pupils understand what is expected of them. Leaders and all staff

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better?

model these expectations and lead by example. Pupils demonstrate high levels of respect and positive attitudes. They say that bullying does not happen, and that unkindness is incredibly rare. Pupils are confident that staff would resolve any issues.

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better?

The curriculum opportunities extend far beyond the academic. Pupils learn about world religions, faiths and differences. They celebrate diversity and demonstrate a clear understanding of respect and tolerance. Careers education is well planned. Pupils visit colleges and enjoy work experience. This means that pupils are equipped with the skills and resilience they need to become successful citizens in modern Britain.

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better?

Extra-curricular activities are broad. Pupils enjoy archery, chess, skiing, debate club and sports, as well as a range of trips and visits. School council members and prefects take their roles seriously. They have made enhancements to the outdoor space and gather and share the views of their peers with the school.

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better?

The curriculum for personal, social and health education supports pupils well. They learn about being physically and mentally healthy and how to keep themselves safe when online and in the community. Relationships and sex education lessons ensure that pupils know about different types of relationships and families. They know how to identify unsafe relationships and how to seek support.

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better?

The proprietor oversees the work of the school as the school does not have a governing body. Frequent checks on the school’s premises and standards of health and safety ensure consistent compliance with the independent school standards.

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better?

The school meets statutory requirements of the Equality Act 2010 through a well- embedded accessibility plan. The proprietor has sharp oversight of safeguarding processes to ensure that pupils are looked after.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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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. 17 to 19 October 2023

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £5,985 to £6,900

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School details

Email address info@heritage-academy.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous inspection 10 to 12 March 2020 17 to 19 October 2023

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Information about this school

 Heritage Academy is an independent day school for boys aged 11 to 16 located in Birmingham. The school has an Islamic ethos but is open to all faiths.  Currently, there are no pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities on roll at the school.  The school was last inspected in March 2020, when it was judged to be outstanding in all areas.  The school does not make use of alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The purpose of the inspection is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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Information about this inspection

The school meets the independent school standards. These are the requirements set out in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school had received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors met with the headteacher and the proprietor.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in English, mathematics, science and religious studies. For each deep dive, inspectors held discussions about the curriculum, looked at curriculum plans, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  Inspectors also looked at curriculum plans and spoke to leaders about some other subjects.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspectors: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and

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Information about this inspection

considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  The lead inspector toured the premises to check for compliance with the independent school standards. A number of key documents were also reviewed, including policies relating to admissions, behaviour, curriculum, complaints, health and safety, and safeguarding.  A number of responses to Ofsted’s surveys for parents and carers, staff and pupils were also considered. 17 to 19 October 2023

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Inspection team

Melanie Callaghan-Lewis, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection team

Susan Hickerton Ofsted Inspector 17 to 19 October 2023 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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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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