Academy placed in special measures is improving, says Ofsted

BBG Academy in Birkenshaw was rated “inadequate” by the education watchdog in October, 2014.

But inspectors said pupils’ behaviour and attendance had improved and that school leaders were taking “effective action” towards the removal of special measures.

It is the third monitoring visit inspectors have made to the Bradford Road school since 2014.

A report, published by Ofsted on November 12 after a recent monitoring inspection, said: “Behaviour has improved considerably.

“The number of incidents of poor behaviour has fallen significantly since the previous monitoring visit in May 2015.

“More and more pupils are attending the academy on a day-to-day basis, and the rate of attendance is now above the national average.”

But the report said more improvements are still needed to be made at the school.

The report said: “Overall, the school’s information shows that levels of attainment are rising. However, in lessons, the more-able pupils are often not stretched enough.”

Inspectors said in some lessons, expectations of the amount and presentation of work were still not high enough and some teachers’ marking did not follow the school’s policy.

The report said: “In some cases, teachers’ marking does not follow the academy’s policy. As a result, pupils make less progress and have less pride in their work.”

The Section 8 Ofsted monitoring inspection took place on October 15 and 16. Two previous monitoring inspections took place in May and January.