Ash Hill Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Ash Hill Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.

The principal of this school is Mathew Hicks.

The executive principal of the school is Richard Brooke. This school is part of the Delta Academies Trust, which means other people in the trust also have responsibility for running the school. The trust is run by the chief executive officer (CEO), Paul Terence Tarn, and overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by Stephen Peter Hodsman.

What is it like to attend this school?

This school is ambitious that all pupils will succeed. Staff are highly motivated and well skilled. Positive relationships between staff and pupils,... based on mutual respect, permeate the school.

Pupils know that staff want the best for them. Pupils benefit from a variety of enriching opportunities. These include visits to the theatre, universities, local businesses and an outdoor pursuits centre.

Leaders continually raise pupils' aspirations.

The school has high expectations of how pupils should conduct themselves. Pupils move around the school building calmly, respect their environment and wear their uniform with pride.

Pastoral care is of a high quality. Staff understand individual pupil's needs and support them well in the classroom. Over time, academic achievement at the school has improved significantly.

Disadvantaged pupils now achieve well in many subjects.

The importance of good behaviour and attendance are regularly celebrated. Many pupils work hard to achieve these rewards.

The school provides deliberate opportunities for pupils to develop their character and spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding. This includes the 'pledge' system that encourages pupils' wider participation in the life of the school and local community. Pupils talk with enthusiasm about these opportunities.

Parents recognise the positive changes that have taken place at the school over time.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has developed a curriculum that is highly ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff know which topics pupils might struggle to understand.

They plan opportunities to revisit important knowledge and skills regularly so that pupils master them. The way that pupils learn new vocabulary is also well considered. Pupils use technical vocabulary with increasing confidence.

Staff choose the activities pupils will undertake in each lesson carefully. Explanations of how to achieve each stage of learning are clearly given. Staff are knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects.

This positively impacts pupils' classroom experience. Older pupils are resilient and have high expectations for their own success. Pupils say that staff will always help them when they need it.

The questions that staff ask pupils to identify what they do, and do not, understand are effective. Staff address any misconceptions that pupils hold about previous learning. The school checks what pupils know and can do effectively.

Staff workload is considered thoughtfully when planning changes at the school. Staff talk positively about how the school supports their well-being in various ways. They are proud to work at the school.

Pupils with SEND are valued members of the school community. Staff and pupils understand and support pupils who might need extra help. Pupils' specific needs are accurately identified and addressed.

In lessons, suitable adjustments are made to resources and tasks to help pupils with SEND learn the curriculum effectively. Many pupils with SEND produce high-quality work and achieve well.

The school quickly identifies those who might need extra help learning to read fluently.

The support that is put in place is precise and highly effective. This helps pupils who begin the school significantly behind their peers to quickly catch up. Pupils are regularly encouraged to read for pleasure.

Reading is a high priority at the school.

The vast majority of pupils conduct themselves well in lessons and at social times. However, the school's strategic approach to improving behaviour and rates of attendance is not as effective as it might be for a minority of pupils.

Rates of persistent absence and suspension among some groups of pupils remain too high. The school recognises this is the case and has taken determined action to address it.

Careers education, advice and guidance at the school is very effective.

Older pupils are ambitious about future study and employment opportunities. Talks from visiting professionals and higher education providers inspire pupils for their futures. Pupils leave school with the qualifications they need to access higher education.

Leadership at all levels is highly effective. Governors support and challenge the school to continually improve. Professional development for staff is carefully tailored to their needs and career goals.

Regular opportunities for staff to take on additional responsibilities empower them to be the best they can be.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• A small, but significant, number of pupils are suspended from school too regularly or are persistently absent.

This is particularly the case for some vulnerable pupil groups. This impacts negatively on their educational experience and academic outcomes. The school should further refine its approach to reducing incidents of suspension and rates of persistent absence, especially for those pupils in receipt of the pupil premium or with SEND.

Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted's website. From September 2024 graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade.

This school was, before September 2024, judged to be good for its overall effectiveness.

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school's work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good for overall effectiveness in March 2020.

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