Mary Astell Academy was inspected by Ofsted 8-9 June 2022 and overall
was rated as Requires Improvement.
Ofsted look at four key areas, the quality of education, behaviour and
attitudes, personal development and leadership and management. Mary Astell Academy received Good ratings for
personal development and leadership and management and Requires improvement for
the quality of education and behaviour and attitudes. This is a vast improvement
on the last inspection which was in 2016 when Linhope PRU before the school
joined the Trust, it was rated Inadequate.
In the report Ofsted’s inspectors noted 'Leaders have a clear vision for the academy's place and purpose within the city's educational landscape. They are working with the local authority and local secondary schools to develop this role. They are steadily building a valued provision.
One
parent reflected the views of others, saying, "The school has been
tremendously supportive, helpful, patient and ambitious for our
child."
The inspectors also said “Leaders are determined to give pupils a second
chance. Where possible, they work to reintegrate pupils back into
mainstream education. If necessary, staff continue to check on these
pupils to make sure their transition to a new school is successful.”
Chris Richardson, Acting Chief Executive said "Everybody at Prosper
Learning Trust and Mary Astell Academy is delighted that the inspection team
recognised the hugely significant progress the school has made over the last
few years.
We know there is more to do, and the report helps to identify those
areas we still need to work on, but from where the school was at the time of
its last inspection, to where it is now is a remarkable and rapid
improvement.
The report recognises the strength of the leadership and management of
the school and pays a proper tribute to the work of the leadership team and to
the fantastic work of the talented and dedicated team of staff.
It also should be noted that the pupils themselves are praised too for
their hard work, positive attitudes and good behaviour and demonstrated their
loyalty and commitment to the school throughout the inspection.
Finally, it should be acknowledged that all of the progress that has
been made was achieved in the most challenging of circumstances, whilst
supporting some of the most vulnerable children in the city through the
privations of the pandemic.
It is a result of which everybody is justifiably proud and only serves
to inspire us to secure further improvement in the future"