Leycroft Academy, located in Birmingham, has undergone significant changes since its establishment as a special school for pupils with autism. The recent inspection, conducted on May 21 and 22, 2024, revealed that the school requires improvement in several key areas, including overall effectiveness, quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The headteacher, Patrick Jones, has been in place since February 2023, and the school is part of the Forward Education Trust, which provides oversight and support.
The inspection highlighted that new leadership has raised expectations for pupil achievement and is in the process of developing a new curriculum aimed at helping pupils understand the wider world and discover their talents. However, this initiative is still in its early stages, and there is a need for further work to ensure that all pupils' learning needs are adequately understood and supported. Positive relationships between staff and pupils were noted, with staff being described as caring and supportive, contributing to a safe environment for students.
The school has introduced systems to support pupils' communication needs, aided by trained communication champions. Despite these efforts, some staff do not consistently implement the agreed strategies, leading to communication challenges for pupils and resulting in low-level disruptive behaviors in classrooms. Leaders are ambitious for pupils' personal development, and initiatives such as celebrating various festivals and learning about different faiths are in place. Plans are also being developed to provide pupils with experiences in the wider community.
While there are positive changes underway, the school faces challenges in curriculum development. The curriculum is undergoing significant changes, but essential knowledge and skills have not yet been clearly identified across all subject areas. This lack of clarity means that pupils are not consistently building their knowledge and skills over time. The variability in lesson delivery also affects the effectiveness of the curriculum, with some staff successfully addressing the academic and special educational needs of pupils, while others do not.
The school has prioritized teaching reading through a new systematic phonics scheme, which is beginning to show positive results. Additionally, the introduction of the 'shine' approach aims to support staff in understanding and responding to pupils' behavioral needs. However, consistent implementation of these initiatives remains a challenge, and leaders need to develop a clearer understanding of how well these changes are being executed across the school.
Pupils are gaining valuable experiences to support their personal development, including life skills training. The school is also focused on improving attendance, although some pupils still do not attend regularly. The trust and school leaders are committed to supporting families in ensuring consistent attendance.
The safeguarding arrangements at Leycroft Academy are effective, ensuring the safety and well-being of pupils. The inspection concluded that while there are many positive developments, the school must address the inconsistencies in implementing communication and behavior strategies, further develop the curriculum, and enhance the overall effectiveness of teaching and learning. The leadership team is aware of these challenges and is actively working to implement necessary improvements. The school community, including parents, is generally supportive of the positive changes being made.
