South Leeds special academy has the 'highest aspirations' for its pupils - Ofsted report
Ofsted has praised a specialist south Leeds academy for having the “highest aspirations” for its pupils.
Cockburn Reach Academy, located on Northcote Crescent, Hunslet, received a ‘Strong Standard’ rating in the areas of attendance and behaviour, inclusion, leadership and governance and personal development and wellbeing during a recent Ofsted inspection.
Inspectors visiting the school on February 3 this year, also scored the school as meeting the ‘Expected Standard’ in both achievement and curriculum and teaching.
Cockburn Reach is an independent special school which intends to provide education for up to 40 pupils aged five to 11 years. Students come from primary schools across south Leeds for a range of reasons and are given a chance to be successful outside of a mainstream school setting.
The education watchdog said: “This school is highly effective in helping pupils get back on track with their learning. Well skilled leaders and staff ably support pupils through carefully considered approaches to reengage with school life positively. Pupils attend this school for a temporary period.
“All pupils in the school have special educational needs and/or disabilities and enjoy coming to school. The school has the highest aspirations for them. Pupils benefit from a curriculum that supports their learning and helps them understand how to regulate their behaviour.”
Leaders work with the proprietor and governors to ensure that all staff understand, share and live out the school’s ethos and aims, according to the report. The school community clearly recognises the positive difference the school makes to its pupils.
The school ensures the academic and pastoral offer for pupils is “very well matched” to their needs. They use highly effective strategies and adaptations to support pupils, and monitor interventions and support rigorously. This oversight enables leaders to evaluate the impact of their work with precision.
Pupils attend well at Cockburn Reach, according to inspectors, and many pupils “make significant improvements” in their attendance over time. The school sets high expectations around attendance and works together with other partners to make sure pupils come to school regularly.
Focusing on areas of further improvement, inspectors added: “Pupils achieve well from their starting points and during their short time at the school. The school supports pupils particularly effectively with their social and emotional development. As a result, they are generally ready for their next steps in education.
“In mathematics, pupils understand how they get to practise their skills. The progress some pupils make in writing needs further refinement. Some pupils, at the early stages of writing, do not consistently get sufficient opportunities to embed their new writing skills.”
The school’s offer for personal development is of high quality, according to the report. It prioritises pupils’ wellbeing through a rich range of learning experiences and wider opportunities. The personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum forms a key part of this work.
curriculum is described as “broad and highly ambitious.” It focuses on supporting pupils to re-engage in learning well and equipping them with the foundational knowledge and skills they need. The curriculum sets out the small steps pupils must take to make progress.
From the start of a placement at Cockburn Reach, staff prioritise getting to know pupils. They build highly effective and trusting relationships with pupils to help them get back on track and feel like they belong.
Headteacher, Mrs A Quinn, said: “The Cockburn Reach Academy community is extremely proud of the feedback received from Ofsted and remains fully committed to continuing our journey towards excellence. This outcome reflects the significant collective effort of the whole academy in strengthening the quality of education for every pupil.
Staff, families and young people have all played a vital role in ensuring that the academy continues to provide an excellent education, with a strong focus on helping pupils reintegrate to school successfully when they are ready.”