At Values Academy, pupils are happy and safe. They enjoy positive relationships with adults and other pupils. In weekly community meetings, pupils celebrate their successes together. Bullying is rare, and pupils know that staff will sort it out if it happens. Pupils’ behaviour in lessons and around school is generally calm and orderly. They are polite and respectful towards others. Pupils who struggle to regulate their own behaviour receive prompt and effective care and support. Despite this, the behaviour policy is inconsistently applied, which leads to some poor behaviour not being challenged. Pupils do not achieve as well as they could because the curriculum does not meet their needs. Staff do not have high expectations of what pupils should be learning. Pupils are absent from school and lessons too often, and their learning is disrupted. Staff accept pupils’ absence too readily. Leaders have not ensured that the school meets the independent school standards (the standards). Pupils learn about different faiths and cultures and how to keep themselves safe. However, support for pupils’ personal development is not well planned or delivered. Careers information, advice and guidance are not effective. Pupils are not taught explicitly enough the skills they need to thrive beyond school. As a result, pupils are not adequately prepared for the next stage of their lives.