Kingsbury School, located in Tamworth, Staffordshire, is a Specialist Science and Mathematics Academy that has recently undergone an inspection on October 3 and 4, 2023. The overall effectiveness of the school has been rated as good, maintaining the same grade from the previous inspection in April 2019. The headteacher, Martin Clarke, leads the school, which is part of the Castle Phoenix Trust, overseen by CEO Michele Marr and a board of trustees chaired by Peter Freeth.
The school environment is characterized by high ambitions shared among staff and students, fostering a culture of enthusiasm, aspiration, and achievement. Pupils express satisfaction with the support they receive, and the relationships within the school are warm and respectful, contributing to a sense of happiness and safety among students. During structured lesson times, pupils demonstrate positive and respectful behavior, although there are challenges during unstructured times such as breaks and lunch, where some students do not behave sensibly. Staff are proactive in addressing these issues, ensuring that students understand the school's expectations regarding behavior.
Kingsbury School places a strong emphasis on personal development, with senior pupils taking on leadership roles to support their peers. Initiatives such as pupil librarians and anti-bullying ambassadors promote a positive school environment. The school offers a rich and diverse extracurricular program, including sports, cheerleading, and music, and students value opportunities to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme and school productions.
Significant changes in leadership and staff roles have occurred since the last inspection, leading to a rapid review and design of an ambitious curriculum that caters to all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. While improvements in teaching and learning have been noted, the outcomes for pupils at the end of key stage four have not yet shown consistent improvement. However, current students are making significant progress.
The school has effectively identified key knowledge that pupils need to succeed, and teachers present new subject matter clearly, focusing on essential knowledge acquisition. Relevant training has been provided to staff, enhancing their pedagogical skills and subject knowledge. Teachers utilize assessments effectively, helping pupils retain and recall information. For instance, Year 11 drama students can accurately apply techniques learned in earlier years to their performances and written work.
Pupils with special educational needs are quickly identified, and teachers adapt their teaching to meet diverse needs, ensuring that all students access the ambitious curriculum. Strategies to support less confident readers have been developed, with specialist teachers addressing weaknesses in phonics, grammar, and comprehension. The school promotes reading widely, contributing to improvements in literacy across the student body.
Despite these strengths, the school faces challenges with attendance, as some pupils miss too much school, hindering their progress. The school recognizes the need to engage more effectively with students and parents to improve attendance rates. Additionally, behavior during unstructured times requires ongoing attention to ensure a positive social environment for all pupils.
The personal, social, health, and economic curriculum is well-planned, covering essential topics such as healthy relationships and online safety. A comprehensive careers program is in place, and pupils engage enthusiastically with it. Governors and trustees are actively involved in supporting and challenging the school, ensuring accountability for safeguarding and the quality of special educational needs provision. The school is mindful of staff workload, which is appreciated by the staff.
Overall, Kingsbury School demonstrates a commitment to providing a supportive and ambitious educational environment, with clear areas for improvement that the leadership is actively addressing.
