Shrewsbury Academy, located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, was inspected on January 23 and 24, 2024. The overall effectiveness of the school is rated as requiring improvement, along with the quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The acting headteacher is Jim Taylor, and the school is part of The Marches Academy Trust, overseen by CEO Sarah Finch and a board of trustees chaired by Alex Fry.
The inspection revealed that staff at Shrewsbury Academy know the pupils well and provide high levels of care, aligning with the trust's mission of achievement through caring. However, there is recognition that much work remains to fully realize the school's vision. Recent improvements in behavior management have led to better routines and a calmer learning environment, although consistency is still lacking. Pupils generally feel safe at school, but some express dissatisfaction with the pace of improvement.
The curriculum has been overhauled to be more ambitious, addressing previously low outcomes for many pupils. Despite this, inconsistencies in the quality of education persist, with some pupils experiencing a more positive learning environment than others. The school acknowledges that published outcomes have been too low and is working to refine the curriculum to better meet the needs of all pupils. While pupils learn the intended curriculum well when activities align with its ambition, there are instances where learning activities do not effectively support knowledge acquisition, leading to gaps in understanding.
Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities have their needs identified accurately, but the effectiveness of support varies. The school has recently clarified behavior expectations, which has positively impacted many pupils, but there are still instances of disruption when these expectations are not enforced. The school is addressing low attendance levels, recognizing the need for further encouragement for some parents to ensure regular attendance.
The personal, social, and health education curriculum is broad and provides essential information for pupil safety. Opportunities for leadership and citizenship development exist, alongside various enrichment activities such as sports clubs and the Duke of Edinburgh's award. However, the school does not yet maximize participation in these opportunities, particularly for those who would benefit most.
The trust has made efforts to support the school and bring stability, including attracting skilled staff. However, there is acknowledgment that improvements have not been consistent, and some changes have not been implemented as quickly as intended. Staff express pride in the school and its role in the community, although some seek more clarity regarding their roles amid recent changes.
The safeguarding arrangements at the school are deemed effective. To improve, the school must ensure consistent application of behavior management strategies by all staff, accelerate support for weaker readers, and systematically check pupils' understanding to address knowledge gaps. Additionally, learning activities should align with the curriculum's ambition, and support for pupils with special educational needs must be effectively implemented. Monitoring of improvement efforts needs to be more impactful to ensure consistency across the school.
