City of Derby Academy, located in Sinfin, Derby, underwent an inspection on March 19 and 20, 2024. The overall effectiveness of the school was rated as requiring improvement, with the quality of education also marked as requiring improvement. However, the school demonstrated good performance in areas such as behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The headteacher, Adrian Harding, leads the school, which is part of the QEGSMAT multi-academy trust overseen by CEO Anne Martin and chaired by Sue Hall.
The school fosters a welcoming environment that celebrates the diversity of the local community. Pupils feel safe and are generally happy, benefiting from strong relationships with staff who provide high-quality pastoral support. The school has established a caring ethos, and pupils appreciate the positive behavior incentives in place. Extra-curricular activities, including sports and arts, contribute to the development of leadership skills among students. The curriculum has seen improvements since the last inspection, but it still requires further enhancement to meet the needs of all pupils effectively.
While the curriculum is now broad and ambitious, with a logical sequence of knowledge across subjects, weaknesses in delivery persist in some areas. Teachers are encouraged to check pupils' understanding and retention of knowledge before progressing to new content. In subjects where the curriculum is taught effectively, teachers skillfully assess learning, but in others, there are gaps in pupils' knowledge due to insufficient questioning techniques. The school prioritizes reading, implementing new strategies to foster a love for reading, although the impact of these initiatives is still developing.
Behavior within the school has improved, with most pupils displaying good conduct in and out of lessons. Staff training focused on relationship-building has contributed to a reduction in poor behavior incidents. However, some staff members do not consistently apply the behavior policy, which can lead to isolated issues. Attendance remains a challenge for certain pupils, but the school is actively working with families to improve this aspect, resulting in positive trends.
The school’s contribution to personal development is well-structured, teaching pupils about healthy relationships and respect for diverse opinions. Events celebrating cultural diversity enhance pupils' understanding of their community. The school also provides a robust careers program, helping students explore post-16 training options. Leaders have made significant strides since the last inspection, strengthening the curriculum and improving behavior. The commitment of the multi-academy trust and local governors to enhance the educational experience is evident, as they hold leaders accountable and prioritize staff well-being.
Safeguarding measures are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils. However, the school must continue to address areas for improvement, particularly in ensuring that all teachers accurately assess pupils' knowledge and embed phonics teaching to support reading development. Opportunities for reading across the curriculum need to be expanded, particularly for older students, to promote wider reading habits. Overall, while the school has made commendable progress, ongoing efforts are necessary to achieve the desired standards of educational excellence.
