Ofsted has endorsed the progress of Hartshill Academy stating that leaders and governors are taking effective action to improve the Academy, particularly in relation to behaviour, attendance, teaching and learning as part of its journey to being judged as ‘Good’. The report that was published following Ofsted’s visit on 27 January 2022 states that school staff are working together as one team to change the culture at Hartshill Academy, enabling it ‘to reach even higher standards’ in future.
Inspectors praised the school for greater consistency in the way that lessons are delivered, and a growing culture of reading in the school. They saw evidence of ‘a deliberate focus on academic achievement, raising aspirations and embedding the Hartshill Way’. The Ofsted report recognises that behaviour has improved considerably.
In addition, Ofsted recognised the support that being part of the Midland Academies Trust brings to the school in enabling leaders to focus on the school priorities and noted that its leaders are determined to improve the life chances of pupils within the local community.
The report continues by stating that ‘since the last inspection, trust and school leaders have set out systematically to improve the quality of education and behaviour in the school.
‘The trust ensures collaborative working across all of its schools in order to develop the curriculum based on research and best practice. Support to improve the quality of education has been sought from experts in their field from across the country. An external perspective has been used to quality assure the work of the trust and ensure rigour and objectivity in its evaluation.’
Lorraine Taylor, Principal of Hartshill Academy said, “We welcome the findings of Ofsted following this visit and its report provides fitting recognition of the considerable effort that has been made to improve pupils’ experience of teaching and learning and foster a positive culture. We believe that we have the appropriate high-quality support in place to enable us to follow the five-year curriculum that is helping us to improve the school.”
Simon Lomax, Executive Principal for the Midland Academies Trust said, “The Trust welcomes this endorsement of the significant progress that the school has made and the positive impact that Lorraine Taylor has already made since she joined the school last autumn. Ofsted has recognised the hard work and determination of the whole team and we are sure that with this endorsement, Hartshill Academy will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Chief Executive of the Midland Academies Trust said, “This report marks an important milestone for Hartshill Academy on its journey towards continuous improvement. Its relentless focus on supporting pupils to positively engage with their school experience has really helped to ensure that they are in the best possible position to progress with their studies and get the most out of the innovative curriculum we have developed across the Trust.” Last month, planning permission was granted by North Warwickshire Borough Council for the redevelopment of Hartshill Academy which will be one of the first to benefit from the Government’s national school rebuilding programme. The school will be rebuilt on its current site in Church Road and the project will deliver a state-of-the-art facility that is fit for 21st century teaching and carbon neutral by design.