Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Sirius Academy North on June 26, 2019, following its previous judgment of good in December 2015. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team has effectively addressed challenges faced in 2017, leading to improved standards in 2018. Decisive actions have been taken to enhance leadership, teaching, and learning, resulting in better pupil progress. Although some improvements are still in early stages, they are sustainable due to strong leadership.
Governors are well-informed about the school's strengths and weaknesses, focusing on appropriate priorities and engaging with the school to support necessary improvements. They hold leaders accountable and utilize information effectively to measure the impact of actions on pupil outcomes. The school has made progress in addressing previous inspection recommendations, particularly in improving literacy and numeracy skills, challenging all pupils, and ensuring consistent application of guidance policies.
The school has prioritized the development of pupils' literacy skills, providing numerous opportunities for extended writing and guidance from teachers. The most able pupils are challenged appropriately, and gaps in progress between different groups are narrowing. A rigorous quality assurance system has been implemented to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment, fostering collegiality and partnership among staff. This has led to improved teaching quality and positive outcomes across various subjects.
Leaders have also improved assessment quality, ensuring accuracy and reliability. They have collaborated with other schools within the trust to support these developments. There is an accurate understanding of pupil progress, and a focus on disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and disabilities has been established. Signs of improvement are evident, and pupils report positively about the support they receive.
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff trained in child protection procedures and confident in their responsibilities. The designated safeguarding lead demonstrates knowledge and experience, ensuring prompt actions are taken when concerns arise. The school rigorously follows up on absences and monitors the progress of pupils attending off-site education.
Pupils exhibit positive attitudes towards learning, showing respect for teachers and peers. There was no disruption during lessons, and pupils expressed satisfaction with their experiences at the school. They appreciate the guidance provided for their safety and well-being.
The inspection findings highlight the focus on improving the progress of the most able pupils, with evidence of high-quality work in their books. While the overall quality of teaching has improved, some inconsistencies remain in questioning techniques used by teachers. The school has established strong transition partnerships with primary schools to enhance literacy skills from the outset. Teachers across subjects provide opportunities for developing literacy and vocabulary.
The progress of disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs remains a priority for improvement. Although there have been positive developments in external examinations, further progress is necessary. School leaders are committed to ensuring that these pupils receive the support needed to achieve comparable outcomes to their peers. Attendance and behavior are not barriers to progress, as leaders ensure regular attendance and positive attitudes among disadvantaged pupils.
Next steps for the school include building on improved outcomes, ensuring consistent questioning from teachers to deepen pupil responses, and stretching the most able pupils across all subjects. The inspection concluded that the school is on a positive trajectory, with a commitment to continuous improvement in pupil outcomes.
