Mary Astell Academy Receive Positive Inspection Report from Ofsted
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Mary Astell Academy were inspected by Ofsted on 24 and 25 September 2024 and have retained their ratings in all four of the key areas.
Ofsted rated the school as "good" in the areas of personal development and leadership and management, whereas the quality of education and behaviour and attitudes were rated as "requires improvement".
Inspectors commended Mary Astell Academy in how pupils are "effectively supported by staff who know each pupil well" and that pupils "know they can rely on adult support if they have a concern". As a result pupils "are happy and feel safe in school".
Importantly, the report states that "the environment is calm and orderly" and pupils are "polite and courteous" because "staff take time to build trusting relationships".
In regard to the school's curriculum, Ofsted inspectors found that Mary Astell Academy pupils "speak highly" of their opportunities to "develop their talents and interests" and to "express themselves in artistic or musical ways" and that "pupil's personal development is clearly mapped out".
Andrea Spowart, Headteacher of Mary Astell Academy, said: "As Headteacher, I am incredibly proud and delighted with the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our 2024 Ofsted report. It is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment of our staff, pupils, and families. The inspectors highlighted the strength of our teaching, the nurturing environment we’ve created, and the progress our students continue to make. I want to congratulate everyone involved in this achievement—it is a shared success that reflects the incredible community we have here. We will continue building on this strong foundation to ensure even greater success for all our pupils."
Chris Richardson, CEO of Prosper Learning Trust, said: "It has been a challenging time for the school since the previous inspection in June 2022, with record numbers of permanent exclusions putting tremendous pressure on all areas of the system. It is therefore heartening to see, in the narrative of the report, clear acknowledgement of the recent improvements in the provision brought about by the school's decisive action supported by the trust's school improvement team. It is a credit to all of the staff at Mary Astell that pupils in the school described their experiences so favourably to inspectors during their visit. Everybody at Mary Astell is now committed to building upon these recent successes to further improve outcomes for the young people and their families."
The full report can be read on the Ofsted website below.