George Salter Academy, located in West Bromwich, West Midlands, has been recognized as a good school following its inspection on May 23 and 24, 2023. The school fosters an environment where pupils and students appreciate that school life extends beyond academic lessons. Most students express enjoyment in their school experience and strive to meet the high expectations set by the staff regarding behavior, learning, and personal growth. As a result, pupils are achieving increasingly better outcomes.
The atmosphere in classrooms is calm, with nearly all pupils focused on their learning activities. During social times and while moving around the school, students demonstrate good self-management. The school promotes a culture of diversity, encouraging pupils to embrace its ethos of one world in one school. Events like culture day allow students to share their cultural backgrounds, and instances of discriminatory language are rare, with staff addressing any occurrences promptly.
The Salter Scholar programme provides all pupils with a wide range of opportunities that support their character development, including trips, visits, and interactions with inspirational speakers. Students also engage in community support activities, such as running a netball tournament for local primary school pupils. The programme culminates in a graduation where pupils complete activities linked to key character traits, with many taking pride in their achievements.
School leaders have made significant strides in addressing areas identified in previous inspections, leading to improved outcomes for pupils. They are committed to defying disadvantage and addressing barriers that pupils may face, which is reflected in both the curriculum and personal development offerings. The curriculum is carefully structured from Years 7 to 13, allowing pupils to build and deepen their knowledge over time. Teachers are well-informed about the essential knowledge and skills required for student success, and they focus on enhancing pupils' vocabulary and oracy skills.
Teachers utilize their strong subject knowledge to help pupils grasp new concepts and regularly check for understanding, allowing them to identify areas that may need revisiting. Pupils receive quality feedback, enabling them to understand how to improve their work. While leaders are addressing inconsistencies in curriculum delivery, support is being provided to teachers from practitioners within the multi-academy trust.
Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) follow the same ambitious curriculum as their peers. Staff are trained to identify specific needs, and leaders ensure these needs are assessed and met effectively. The quality of pupil passports, which contain strategies to support learning, has improved, although consistent application by all staff remains a challenge. Nonetheless, many parents and carers of pupils with SEND commend the support their children receive.
The school is focused on enhancing reading skills, particularly for those who struggle. A multi-layered reading strategy has been implemented, but some aspects are not as effective as intended, leading to slower progress for certain pupils. Leaders are aware of the need to monitor and improve this strategy.
Pupils understand and generally meet the behavior expectations set by leaders, resulting in a decrease in serious behavioral incidents. A new behavior intervention programme for younger pupils is helping to reduce inappropriate behavior.
The school's commitment to supporting pupils' personal development is commendable. Through a well-structured personal, social, health, and economic education curriculum, pupils learn about British society and citizenship. The strong careers programme prepares Year 11 pupils and sixth formers for their future endeavors, reflected in the high rates of students transitioning to further education or employment.
Staff feel valued and appreciate the professional development opportunities provided. Leaders are actively working to reduce staff workload, which remains a priority. The safeguarding arrangements at the school are effective, with a strong culture of safeguarding established. Staff are vigilant in reporting concerns, and leaders respond swiftly to ensure pupil safety. Overall, George Salter Academy continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing a supportive and effective educational environment for all its pupils.
