In our first Ofsted inspection since becoming an academy, Small Heath Leadership Academy has received an overall rating of ‘good’.
Visiting the academy on 11 and 12 May 2022, the Ofsted inspection team has heaped praise on our students, staff and the whole school community in their report which has been published this week.
This report marks an important milestone in our transformational journey, since converting to an academy and joining Star Academies in January 2018.
The academy has been rated ‘good’ in every area of the inspection framework, including the quality of its education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.
Students and staff have been praised for fostering a school community ‘in which diversity is celebrated’ with students saying that the academy’s welcoming culture is shaped by ‘the STAR values of service, teamwork ambition and respect’.
This positive academy environment is reflected in the report’s findings that ‘pupils value the support that they receive from their peers, which they say is one of the strengths of the schools’, along with the ‘extensive opportunities they have to take on leadership roles in the school’.
Inspectors acknowledged the service and dedication of staff, stating: ‘Leaders are passionate about the school’ and that ‘pupils say staff go out of their way to help them when they need it.’ The school’s lofty ambitions for their students are particularly praised, with leaders who ‘make sure that pupils can achieve ambitious outcomes’ and that they have ‘high aspirations for their pupils, and pupils work hard in lessons to meet these expectations.’
The report also recognised the efforts of staff to ensure that every student has access to a good quality education and is equipped with skills and experiences to succeed in their lives outside of school. Inspectors found that: ‘Leaders have thought carefully about what they want pupils to learn. Curriculum plans clearly identify opportunities for teachers to check pupils’ knowledge’. The inspection report declares that ‘leaders work with the wider community to make sure that pupils are aware of the opportunities that they have outside of school’ with students having ‘access to an effective careers programme’.
Inspectors also acknowledged that the importance of reading, a key focus for all Star schools, is promoted by leaders and that ‘pupils are encouraged to read widely and often.’ Indeed, the report states that ‘pupils at the early stages of reading are identified quickly and supported to be able to develop fluent reading skills.’
Academy leaders were lauded in ‘effectively supporting pupils who need additional help and pupils value this’, also praising the fact that ‘leaders deal with complex safeguarding cases effectively, taking care to provide the support that pupils and their families need’. The Academy’s Hearing Resource Centre was also heavily praised, which allows students to receive ‘high quality support and this helps them to achieve well.’
Enass Al-Ani, Principal at Small Heath Leadership Academy, said:
“This Ofsted report is a fantastic tribute to the commitment of our dedicated staff and governors, our incredible students and, of course, our parents and carers. We are extremely pleased the inspectors have acknowledged the ambitious aspirations we have for our students and the academy as a whole.
“What was perhaps most pleasing is that our students not only feel supported by their teachers and school leaders, they also feel part of a positive school community where their peers are on hand to help them, fully demonstrating our STAR values in action.
“We are continuing our work to secure our future goal of achieving an overall outstanding Ofsted grading and are committed to making further improvements as we continue our journey to excellence in all areas.”
You can read the full Ofsted report here.