Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection of Beechview Academy on June 10, 2024, following two successive judgments of requires improvement. The purpose of this inspection was to assess the progress made by the school since its last graded inspection, rather than to provide an overall effectiveness grade. The inspection involved discussions with the headteacher, senior leaders, staff, the chief executive officer of the trust, and trustees, as well as observations of lessons, scrutiny of pupils' work, and examination of the school's pre-employment checks.
The findings indicate that while leaders have made progress in improving the school, further work is necessary for it to achieve a good rating. The school is currently focused on enhancing the quality of education and has recognized the need for a more effective improvement plan. The trust and the school are now aligned in their priorities, which is a positive development. However, the school faced significant challenges at the beginning of the academic year due to severe flooding, which required the relocation of some classes to temporary facilities. Restoration efforts are expected to be completed by the end of the summer term.
Beechview Academy has overhauled its curriculum to ensure it is ambitious and prepares pupils for secondary education. A clear roadmap has been established within subjects to guide the progression of knowledge throughout a pupil's educational journey. While knowledge has been well-defined for teachers, the English curriculum still requires clarity regarding the sequence of knowledge that pupils need to acquire. Leaders acknowledge the need for further improvements in this area.
The implementation of the new curriculum is a priority for the school, especially in light of the previous year's outcomes, which were significantly below the national average. Leaders are actively training staff in effective teaching strategies to help pupils gain the necessary knowledge. However, the work assigned to pupils has not yet met the desired standards, particularly in writing across the curriculum, where support for handwriting and letter formation needs enhancement.
A strong reading culture has been established within the school, with pupils enjoying new high-quality fiction books and engaging in regular reading opportunities. Staff effectively screen for reading gaps when pupils join the school, ensuring that those who need it receive phonics support. However, there are still areas for improvement, as some staff lack the skills to identify the most effective activities for teaching reading, writing, and spelling. Additionally, the alignment of reading materials with pupils' phonics knowledge is inconsistent, which affects their reading progress. Plans are in place to implement a new phonics program to address these issues.
The newly appointed trustees bring valuable experience in governance and education, providing effective support and challenge to the school leadership. Staff have expressed appreciation for the recent improvements and support from the trust, noting that these changes have been transformative. The headteacher is optimistic about the positive impact of the ongoing improvements and the progress made thus far.
In summary, Beechview Academy is on a path of improvement, with leaders demonstrating determination to enhance the quality of education. While significant strides have been made, particularly in curriculum development and fostering a reading culture, further work is needed to ensure that all aspects of teaching and learning meet the required standards. The school is committed to addressing these challenges and is working collaboratively with the trust to achieve its goals. The monitoring inspection has highlighted both the progress made and the areas that require continued focus, ensuring that the school remains dedicated to providing a high-quality education for its pupils.
