The ACE Academy Ofsted Report - November 2014

School report

The ACE Academy Alexandra Road, Tipton, DY4 7NR

Inspection dates

12–13 November 2014 Previous inspection:

Not previously inspected as an academy

This inspection:

Inadequate

4

Leadership and management

Inadequate

4

Behaviour and safety of pupils

Inadequate

4

Quality of teaching

Inadequate

4

Achievement of pupils

Inadequate

4

Sixth form provision

Inadequate

4

Overall effectiveness

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils This is a school that requires special measures.  Achievement is inadequate. Too few students make the progress they should, especially in English, mathematics and science. The gap between the achievement of disadvantaged students and other students is widening in English and mathematics.  Disabled students and those who have special educational needs do not make the progress expected of them.  The most-able students are not sufficiently challenged. As a consequence, they make inadequate progress.  Students have large gaps in their knowledge due to inadequate teaching over time, particularly in English, mathematics and science.  Students’ literacy and numeracy skills are poorly developed. School leaders’ actions to tackle this have been ineffective.  Teachers’ expectations of what students are able to achieve are low. Teaching assistants do not always know how to develop the understanding of the less able students they support. Students’ lack of work in lessons is often unchallenged by teachers.

 Many teachers do not have an accurate view of what students know and can do. As a result, they do not plan or deliver learning activities that develop, consolidate or speed-up students’ knowledge, skills and understanding.  Students’ spiritual, moral and social development, including behaviour, is inadequate because many students show a reluctance to learn. Low-level disruption frequently hinders students’ learning. Students’ behaviour around the academy is inadequate. As a consequence, many younger students feel unsafe.  The sixth form is inadequate because too many students underachieve or do not complete their courses. Statutory 16-19 programmes are not fully implemented. The provision for students who have not yet achieved a good GCSE grade in English or mathematics is inadequate.  The headteacher and other recently appointed leaders have had limited time to make significant improvements in achievement, teaching, students’ behaviour and in the sixth form. Improvement plans are not precise enough. Governors have not adequately challenged leaders about the academy’s performance.

The school has the following strengths  Students’ attainment in the sixth form is improving  The recently appointed headteacher has quickly in chemistry, biology, mathematics and history. started to tackle the large number of issues caused by a history of poor leadership and management.