Carers ... AWS
AD/LDA 20th December 2017 Dear Parents / Carers Ofsted and SIAMs Inspections The Academy has been inspected three times this term. We were inspected by the Church of England’s inspection team (SIAMs) in September and we were described as ‘a good Church of England school’. The inspection team recognised the work we were doing to improve the opportunities for every child and young person in the Academy. In November, we had an Ofsted inspection and that report will be on our website and published from Wednesday 20th December 2017. The Ofsted team found that the Academy still requires improvement. Although the Academy is described as requires improvement the report recognises many of the strengths and the progress the Academy has made so far. Parents were complimentary in the feedback they gave to inspectors - amongst other comments from a parent reported by inspectors was: ‘I feel happy that my child is safe and well looked after’. As you are all aware, the Academy has worked very hard to improve outcomes for all of our children and young people over the last eight years, amidst some very challenging changes to curricula, accountability and Ofsted frameworks, so it is very disappointing for us in a year in which we achieved some of our very best results in primary and at Sixth Form level to just achieve a requires improvement judgment. Much of the decision to keep the Academy in the ‘requires improvement’ category was based around Year 11 outcomes in 2017. The report states: ‘Pupils’ outcomes in key stage 4 have remained significantly below national averages over time. Inspectors found, however, that current pupils are making better progress across subjects. This is especially evident in key stage 3. Recent improvements in pupils’ progress and outcomes are due to carefully targeted support and increased challenge for teachers, put in place by recently appointed leaders. Outcomes in the secondary phase overall, however, require improvement.’ [Ofsted Report, 2017, p.12] To give you a flavour of our achievements in 2017: In The Centre
In The Centre, the report states that ‘the personal, social and emotional needs of the pupils … are met effectively in The Centre’ and the report adds ‘most pupils who have complex and severe SEN make good progress from their starting points’..
The Northumberland Church of England Academy is a company limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales with Company No:
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) (2year –olds, Nursery and Reception)
In EYFS: 73% (NA1: 70%) of children in Reception achieved (2016: 73%; 2015: 42.7%) at a Good Level of Development benchmark, for the second year in a row above the national average.
In Primary (Key Stages 1 and 2: Years 1 – 6) At Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)
In Year 1, 83% achieved the phonics test in Year 1 and over 90% achieved it in Year 2. Both cases this exceeded the national average.
In Year 2, in the annual assessments 76% (NA: 76%) achieved expected standard in Reading, 68% (68%) in Writing, and 74% (75%) in mathematics. At greater depth reading and mathematics were above the national average.
In Key Stage 2 (Years 3 – 6)
Year 6 in 2017, in the annual assessments 77% (NA: 72%) achieved expected standard in Reading, 76% (76%) in Writing, and 79% (75%) in mathematics. At greater depth reading and mathematics were above the national average. 66% (NA: 61%) achieved expected standard in all.
Progress for pupils in the Academy in Year 6 last year, placed us in the top 10% of schools in the country, and in the county, the Academy was placed third in mathematics and fifth in reading.
In Secondary (Key Stages 3 (Years 7 – 9) and 4 (Years 10 – 11):
At KS4, the Year 11 cohort did not achieve the targets set for them, and the results for both Attainment 8 and Progress 8 were below national average. Those achieving both English and mathematics were lower than in the previous two years. This was due to the significant changes in the examination systems.
In-school data for both key stages 3 and 4 show that our pupils are making better progress than in the past. Ofsted recognised this in their report.
In The Sixth Form (Key Stage 5: Years 12 – 13)
1
At Key Stage 5, the Academy continues to show very good attainment: 98% pass rate, 47.2% at A*/A/D*, and 69.1% achieving A*- B grades or equivalents.
68% of Post 16 pupils proceeded to university, many to Russell Group universities, to read for degrees in Veterinary Science, Biomedical Sciences, Accounting, Sports Science, and some significant apprenticeship placements were also made including for graduate legal training.
NEETs (Not in education, employment or training) remain very low at the Academy and we try to ensure that all who are NEET are helped into work or study.
NA = National average
In the third inspection of the term in December, The Child-minding Agency was inspected and we are awaiting that report. This is not the outcome sought, but the report has many positive comments to make about the work we are doing to deliver education in the communities we serve. To end with a quote from the Ofsted report and representing a parental view: ‘It is a great pleasure to see them go to school each day with a spring in their step’. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to working with you to develop the Academy into an excellent school in which all of our children flourish and are able to lead lives that are exciting and fulfilling. Yours sincerely
Andrew Day Executive Director
In The Centre, the report states that ‘the personal, social and emotional needs of the pupils … are met effectively in The Centre’ and the report adds ‘most pupils who have complex and severe SEN make good progress from their starting points’..
The Northumberland Church of England Academy is a company limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales with Company No:
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) (2year –olds, Nursery and Reception)
In EYFS: 73% (NA1: 70%) of children in Reception achieved (2016: 73%; 2015: 42.7%) at a Good Level of Development benchmark, for the second year in a row above the national average.
In Primary (Key Stages 1 and 2: Years 1 – 6) At Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)
In Year 1, 83% achieved the phonics test in Year 1 and over 90% achieved it in Year 2. Both cases this exceeded the national average.
In Year 2, in the annual assessments 76% (NA: 76%) achieved expected standard in Reading, 68% (68%) in Writing, and 74% (75%) in mathematics. At greater depth reading and mathematics were above the national average.
In Key Stage 2 (Years 3 – 6)
Year 6 in 2017, in the annual assessments 77% (NA: 72%) achieved expected standard in Reading, 76% (76%) in Writing, and 79% (75%) in mathematics. At greater depth reading and mathematics were above the national average. 66% (NA: 61%) achieved expected standard in all.
Progress for pupils in the Academy in Year 6 last year, placed us in the top 10% of schools in the country, and in the county, the Academy was placed third in mathematics and fifth in reading.
In Secondary (Key Stages 3 (Years 7 – 9) and 4 (Years 10 – 11):
At KS4, the Year 11 cohort did not achieve the targets set for them, and the results for both Attainment 8 and Progress 8 were below national average. Those achieving both English and mathematics were lower than in the previous two years. This was due to the significant changes in the examination systems.
In-school data for both key stages 3 and 4 show that our pupils are making better progress than in the past. Ofsted recognised this in their report.
In The Sixth Form (Key Stage 5: Years 12 – 13)
1
At Key Stage 5, the Academy continues to show very good attainment: 98% pass rate, 47.2% at A*/A/D*, and 69.1% achieving A*- B grades or equivalents.
68% of Post 16 pupils proceeded to university, many to Russell Group universities, to read for degrees in Veterinary Science, Biomedical Sciences, Accounting, Sports Science, and some significant apprenticeship placements were also made including for graduate legal training.
NEETs (Not in education, employment or training) remain very low at the Academy and we try to ensure that all who are NEET are helped into work or study.
NA = National average
In the third inspection of the term in December, The Child-minding Agency was inspected and we are awaiting that report. This is not the outcome sought, but the report has many positive comments to make about the work we are doing to deliver education in the communities we serve. To end with a quote from the Ofsted report and representing a parental view: ‘It is a great pleasure to see them go to school each day with a spring in their step’. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to working with you to develop the Academy into an excellent school in which all of our children flourish and are able to lead lives that are exciting and fulfilling. Yours sincerely
Andrew Day Executive Director
