Ark Boulton Academy

Ark Boulton Academy Golden Hillock Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham, West Midlands B11 2QG

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monitoring inspection report:

The inspection was carried out because concerns had been raised with Ofsted about the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements, the school’s work to promote equality and the contribution of leaders to pupils’ personal development and wellbeing.

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monitoring inspection report:

During the focused monitoring inspection, inspectors considered the following evaluation areas:

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monitoring inspection report:

 Safeguarding  Leadership and governance  Personal development and wellbeing

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Safeguarding standards met

The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.

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Safeguarding standards met

Staff told inspectors that they feel confident to raise any concerns about staff professional conduct. When any concerns are raised, the school keeps careful records of these and investigates them appropriately. Leaders work with the Local Authority Designated Officer as a matter of course, when this is required.

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Safeguarding standards met

The checks that the school makes on staff follow the relevant guidance.

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Leadership and governance

The trust undertakes a full range of evaluations so that trust and school leaders have a deep understanding of the school’s work. For example, the annual review of standards pinpoints areas for improvement across leadership, governance, inclusion, attendance, behaviour and personal development. As a result, school leaders have identified the right priorities and their work to improve the school is effective. Monitoring Inspection report: Ark Boulton Academy, 23 to 24 June 2026 2 The school’s work on improving the extent to which pupils are prepared for life in modern Britain has been implemented effectively, with care. Leaders have identified the right priorities, and their actions are effective. This work is supporting boys and girls to work together in school, more consistently. Leaders have monitored the impact of their actions carefully and adjusted their strategy in response to their findings during this monitoring.

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Leadership and governance

The school’s work to raise aspirations and promote equality for everyone, especially girls, is effective. Girls say that they can ‘dream big’ and that the school supports them to aspire to great things. They feel that they can take part in the full range of the school’s activities. Girls are confident that, if discriminatory language or ideas were to be shared in school, staff would take this very seriously and it would not be tolerated.

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Leadership and governance

A minority of staff have concerns about the leadership team’s willingness to listen to them. Leaders know that some staff do not feel listened to and are tackling this. They know this because they undertake an anonymous survey, annually. Leaders look carefully at all the anonymous comments staff make and respond to each one. They analyse the information from these surveys in detail and incorporate any areas for improvement into their strategic plans. As a result, staff generally feel that they are more listened to and supported than they have been in the past. Most staff say that the school is well led and managed, that they are treated fairly and respectfully, and that they are proud to work at the school.

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Personal development and well-being

Together, trust and school leaders have identified that, sometimes, boys and girls do not feel confident to work together in lessons and to take part in activities together at break and lunchtime. They have rightly identified that it would benefit both boys and girls to gain confidence in working together to prepare them for life after school and life in modern Britain, particularly in a professional context. In lessons, teachers consistently expect pupils to work with anyone, regardless of sex. Pupils are increasingly meeting this expectation and gaining the confidence to do so.

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Personal development and well-being

The school’s curriculum to promote fundamental British values and teach pupils about the protected characteristics is effective. For example, pupils know about the importance of equality. They visit a range of places of worship during their time in school to develop their knowledge of different faiths and beliefs. They learn about democracy in personal development lessons and take part in the school council to share their views with leaders.

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About this inspection

This inspection was conducted under section 8(2) of the Education Act 2005 and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for focused monitoring inspections.

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About this inspection

The inspection team held discussions with a wide range of groups of pupils, staff, senior leaders and trust leaders. They considered 88 responses to Ofsted’s anonymous survey of staff. They also considered 515 responses to Ofsted’s anonymous survey for pupils. Inspectors also scrutinised responses to the school’s own anonymous pupil, parent and carer, and staff surveys. Monitoring Inspection report: Ark Boulton Academy, 23 to 24 June 2026 3 Inspectors evaluated a range of school policies, safeguarding records and associated referrals, safer recruitment arrangements, referrals to the Local Authority Designated officer (LADO), complaints made by pupils, parents and families, and records of pupils who left the school roll.

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About this inspection

The inspection team visited lessons and spoke with staff and pupils at social times.

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About this school

Number of pupils on roll 870 Monitoring Inspection report: Ark Boulton Academy, 23 to 24 June 2026 4 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 looked- after-children, safeguarding and child protection.

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About this school

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About this school

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About this school

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About this school

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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