Ofsted recognise improvements at Peterborough school - but more work still needed

Inspectors visited Bishop Creighton Academy, in Vineyard Road, Peterborough, in January scrutinised records and documentation, observed lessons and met with pupils, staff and parents to get their views.

The academy was judged to be “good” across three of the five areas; leadership and management; the personal development, behaviour and welfare of pupils; and the early years provision.

At the last inspection in January 2014, the school was rated as ‘inadequate.’

Vicki Redhead, Principal, said: “I am delighted that Ofsted recognise the amount of progress we have made in such a short space of time. The support from the Trust has enabled us to accelerate the rate of improvement by enabling us to focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning.

“The inspectors identified areas for further improvement, many of which we had already identified ourselves. I am confident that we have the drive and capacity to sustain further improvement and become a ‘good’ academy in the future. I wish to thank the pupils and staff who have worked tremendously hard and the families who have supported us since the establishment of the Bishop Creighton Academy.”

The report praises the strong leadership of the Principal and Deputy Principal who have created a positive climate where the academy is improving pupils’ behaviour, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and pupils’ outcomes. The positive impact of the GDFT, who took over the academy in April 2015, is also recognised and inspectors noted that “the Greenwood Dale Foundation Trust provides effective professional support to help sustain the academy’s improvement”.

The inspectors noted that the academy’s work to promote pupils’ personal development and welfare is good and as a result pupils know how to stay safe, are confident when talking to others and are proud to take on additional responsibilities. Parents will be particularly keen to read that inspectors found that “the behaviour of pupils is good” and that they are “polite and courteous to each other and to adults”. The report specifically notes how Key Stage 1 pupils say that older pupils are good role models for behaviour.

The early years provision was highly praised and inspectors found that pupils have access to a stimulating and well-resourced environment. More importantly inspectors found that the increasing proportion of children reaching the expected level of development is ensuring that they are better prepared for Year 1.

Wayne Norrie, Chief Executive of the GDFT, said: “I would like to recognise the work that the Principal, Vicki Redhead, and the Senior Leadership Team, have done to drive the improvements since they joined our group of academies last year. I am pleased Ofsted recognise that the Trust provides highly effective governance through our high aspirations for the academy. We will continue to provide the necessary support and challenge so that the academy can move forward to being good overall”.