Pupils who attend Unified Academy face significant social, emotional and mental health difficulties. In the past, many have struggled to cope in school. While many pupils settle in quickly and attend more regularly than they did in their previous schools, absence is still too high. As a result, too many pupils do not consistently benefit from what the school has to offer. Those pupils who attend regularly enjoy school. They develop excellent relationships with staff. Pupils make friends with each other. However, bullying can sometimes be an issue. Staff tackle any issues consistently. Pupils feel a sense of achievement from learning. One pupil told the lead inspector, ‘The staff know how to help me here.’ This was a view shared by many. However, while leaders have improved the curriculum significantly, pupils are not always taught the basics that they have missed from primary school before tackling morecomplex learning. Many pupils are anxious and worry about what they have going on in their lives. Gordi the Gecko and regular visits from dogs are a welcome distraction for pupils when things become challenging. The support pupils receive helps them to become more confident. They learn to manage their emotions and behaviours more effectively.