Pupils at Ark Alexandra Academy increasingly understand that learning is important. Teachers encourage them to believe that they can achieve well. Most pupils enjoy their learning and feel happy at school. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), however, do not currently have the right support to help them succeed. Pupils are happy with the range of subjects that they have. Leaders recognise, however, that there is still more to do to widen choice. For instance, only Year 7 pupils have music on their timetable currently. Leaders have worked hard to ensure that sixth-form students have a wide choice of courses. Overall, pupils behave well in the school. There is a calm and ordered atmosphere in lessons. At breaktimes, pupils enjoy socialising with each other. Most pupils feel safe and say that staff deal well with bullying. A few pupils think that adults could support them better. Pupils and staff have had a great deal of upheaval following the merger, two years ago. The school is now growing in strength. As one parent commented, ‘The improvement is noticeable and welcome. The new leadership has clearly taken the school forward.’ What does the school do well and what does it need to do better? Leaders have made significant and rapid improvements to the content of the curriculum. Subject leads have looked carefully at their plans. They have sequenced the content correctly. This helps pupils to build up their knowledge successfully. Teachers are much clearer about what precisely they want their pupils to learn. They are also increasingly clear about what gaps pupils have in their learning. This thorough approach to assessment extends into the sixth form. Staff have strong subject knowledge. This expertise informs and supports their delivery of the curriculum. Pupils trust in their teachers’ competence. They learn in a focused and purposeful way. This clarity of approach is helping pupils to learn more and retain more. However, it is still at an early stage of development. Pupils are not yet consistently able to make connections to past learning. Sometimes they do not acquire a deep enough understanding of certain topics. This is especially true of less-able pupils and those with SEND. Students in the sixth form draw on previous learning more securely than pupils elsewhere in the school. Overall, leaders are making sure the curriculum reflects the raised expectations they have of the pupils. They have reintroduced music. They have also increased time spent learning a modern foreign language at key stage 3. However, too few pupils choose to study a language at key stage 4. Inspection report: Ark Alexandra Academy 3 and 4 November 2021 2 Leaders have made the development of reading in the school a top priority. A clear focus on helping the weakest readers began last year. However, the effects of the pandemic hampered the expected impact. Leaders have redoubled their efforts at the start of this year. They have devised a comprehensive strategy, invested in resources and delivered training to staff. The work on reading has not yet had time to take full effect. As a result, the impact on weaker readers’ progress is still variable. A further focus this year has been on how best to support pupils with SEND. Again, this initiative is still relatively recent. Leaders have a clear strategy for development. They understand that they need to do more to identify pupils’ needs. Teachers do not always have the skills to adapt activities or support pupils with SEND to access the curriculum and learn more successfully. Pupils’ behaviour and attitudes have improved. Parents, pupils, staff and governors all agree that there has been a significant shift. Pupils behave well in class and respect their teachers. There is very little disruption to learning. Pupils respect the rules. Their attendance at school is improving. The personal development of pupils has been a fundamental part of the school’s work in recent times. Leaders have expanded the range of clubs and activities on offer. The school has recruited well to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme and also to the Combined Cadet Force. Parents are very appreciative of the range of extra-curricular activities that are on offer. High numbers of disadvantaged pupils participate. The school makes sure that it meets the requirements of the Baker Clause, which requires schools to provide students in Years 8 to 13 with information about approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. It provides appropriate careers advice and guidance. Staff are appreciative of the rapid improvements leaders have made at the school. They understand and support the headteacher’s vision. Staff believe that leaders consider their well-being and workload carefully. The trust has invested in the school. It has provided support with both teacher and curriculum development.