Venture Academy is a place where staff have an unconditional positive regard for pupils. Pupils appreciate how understanding staff are, which make them feel happy, safe and settled. They know that staff have their best interests at heart and that they go above and beyond to help. One pupil summed this up beautifully, describing teachers that ‘know “about” us, not just “of” us’. This is a school that is built on positive relationships along with compassion, ambition and partnership. Many pupils have experienced significant disruption at other settings, prior to joining. This school provides effective guidance and support to help pupils improve their behaviour and attendance and to develop positive attitudes to their education. Bullying is rare, but if it happens, pupils have absolute trust that staff will sort it out quickly. The school is ambitious and has high expectations of what pupils can achieve. This shows, for instance, in the significant increase in recent GCSE examination entries. Pupils work hard, take pride in what they do and experience success. During their time here, pupils grow in confidence and resilience, which prepares them for their next stage in education, employment or training.