A Salford school has been declared ‘inadequate’ following a recent Ofsted inspection.
Arbour Academy, which is part of the Kings Multi-Academy Trust, appointed a new headteacher in May and was visited in June.
The school report, published this month, said that pupils who attended the Eccles school ‘did not benefit’ the education that was provided to them.
Inspectors found that both the quality of education and the leadership and management were inadequate.
The report said: “Teachers do not check what pupils have remembered from their previous learning or spot gaps in their understanding.
“These pupils are often given work that they cannot complete successfully.
“Over time, a lack of cohesion in the curriculum has led to pupils’ weak
achievement.
“In some subjects, the school has not ensured that staff receive the
information that they need to build pupils’ knowledge over time. This means that
pupils do not achieve well.
“They do not gain the qualifications that they need to
successfully progress to an appropriate next stage of education, training or
employment.”
The school’s predecessor, The Canterbury Centre, received a ‘good’ rating when it was last inspected in October 2019.
The school transitioned into an academy in April 2023, and this is its first Ofsted report since the takeover.
The inspectors report also shared a concern over the structure of the education provided, as it said: “The timetable means that some pupils do not have to attend the school site full time. They receive some of their learning online instead.
“This is having a detrimental impact, not only on their learning, but also on their social and emotional development. The trust has appropriate plans in place to address this
inequality.”
Arbour Academy leaders have been told they must ensure that the curriculum provides staff with the information that they need to “enable pupils to learn all that they should”.
However, despite the quality of teaching available, they were happy to share that the relationship between student and teachers is good.
As they shared praise that there were “secure relationships” with the adults in school, who show “genuine care” for them.
Ofsted added that students were well mannered as they described them to “behave well”, showing respect to staff and one another.
With that said, Ofsted did share that both behaviour and attitudes, as well as personal development required improvement.
However, in the report Ofsted shared that they are aware that things will begin to change in the school.
As they stated: “This situation is beginning to change for the better. Trustees have an accurate understanding of the weaknesses at the school.
“They have taken some suitable steps to bring about much-needed change. They have established the foundations on which to build further improvement.”
Arbour Academy declined to comment on the Ofsted report.
Recent Comments