Old Bank Academy get a Good Ofsted result!
We are thrilled to announce that Old Bank Academy, a proud member of our Trust, has received a “GOOD” rating in all areas from Ofsted. Inspectors have commended the school’s remarkable transformation, noting, “The impact of this work on the hearts and minds of the school community is transformational.” The report highlighted the creation of a highly positive culture by the new leadership team.
During the May 2024 inspection, Ofsted evaluated various aspects of the school, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. All were judged to be good.
The report praised the school’s strong ethos of care and support, stating, “Pupils feel safe and happy.”
Mrs Wood, Headteacher, expressed her delight: “I am pleased that Ofsted have recognised our hard work and rapid progress over the past four years. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our pupils, staff, parents, governors, trustees, and our wider community. Thank you all for your continued support.”
Inspectors were particularly impressed with student behaviour and the school’s culture. They noted, “Communication, relationships, and working together are a strength of the school,” and observed that “The relationships between adults and pupils are respectful.” The quality of teaching and learning also received high praise, with inspectors highlighting the school’s ambitious curriculum and equal ambitions for pupils with SEND. They remarked, “Pupils work with focus in lessons.”
Mr David Fann, Chair of Governors, shared his pride: “The Governors are incredibly proud of the entire academy community for their hard work in achieving this well-deserved rating. Our goal now is to build on this strong ‘good’ judgement and strive towards becoming an ‘outstanding’ academy.”
The inspection team recognised the school’s efforts to support students’ personal development, noting that the ‘GROW’ values of growth, respect, opportunity, and wellbeing permeate school life. They also highlighted the school’s commitment to broadening pupils’ life skills, stating, “This school provides a wealth of opportunities to broaden pupils’ life skills.”
Mick Kay, CEO of Impact Education Multi Academy Trust, reflected on the school’s journey: “Old Bank Academy is unrecognisable from the school we inherited in April 2020. Achieving a ‘GOOD’ rating in all areas is a significant accomplishment. I am proud of our exceptional pupils and staff who have worked incredibly hard to bring about this transformational change at Old Bank.”
The inspection team concluded, “This is a nurturing and inclusive school which pupils are proud to attend.” Moving forward, our primary focus as a Trust will be to build on the significant improvements made at Old Bank and ensure that all pupils achieve success, leaving as kind, courteous, confident, and hard-working young people.
We look forward to continuing our journey towards excellence and thank everyone who has contributed to this outstanding achievement.