OA Ormesby is making “excellent” progress three months after its Ofsted inspection.

New executive leadership with excellent school improvement experience was appointed at OA Ormesby before it was inspected by Ofsted, after identifying that it needed to improve areas of school life including behaviour.

When Ofsted inspected the school in July, it recognised the positive impact of the new leadership in its report. Since the inspection, the academy’s senior leadership has been further strengthened by the addition of three highly experienced Trust leaders.

The Ofsted report, which found the school to be inadequate, said that Outwood Academy Ormesby does the following well:

• Leaders have a determination to tackle the poor behaviour and attitudes of some pupils. 

• Extra leadership capacity the trust has recently committed includes experienced leaders who know the school well. This has brought more stability to the school. 

• A new curriculum in reading is helping pupils get off to a better start when they join the school.

• Trust and school leaders have created ambitious curriculum plans, including for pupils with SEND.

• Leaders' collaboration and development on curriculum plans is highly effective.

• Teachers have good subject knowledge and are clear about the content that they should deliver.

• An effective careers programme is in place across the school.

• Leaders have put in place well-thought-out and precise strategies to improve attendance.

• Personal development is ambitious, well considered and a priority to improve behaviour and attitudes.

• Trustees have a very clear understanding of the aspects of the school that need to improve. 

The July inspection also highlighted areas where there are challenges, including that some pupils’ poor behaviour and attitudes have a negative impact on much of the school’s work, that some pupils are affected by poor behaviour, and that some pupils show disrespectful behaviour and wilful disruption which distracts pupils from learning.

Julie Slater, Chief Executive Principal, is one of the leadership team driving the school’s improvement. She said:

“As leaders, we have always been determined to provide the very best education possible for our Ormesby community. The changes we put in place to secure rapid improvement, including under the new leadership, are already having a very positive impact. There is, however, more to do, and we are looking forward to working ever closer with the school community over the coming weeks and months to ensuring the school is as good as it can be – this is our objective.

“We know that we all – staff, parents/carers and the wider community – will continue to do all we can to support our students to not only catch-up but excel as we move forward.  Regular attendance, good behaviour and being ready to learn are vital to ensure we don't waste a single minute in helping our children to succeed.”