Pupils ‘live up’ to Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy’s ‘high expectations’

Ofsted has strongly praised Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy as being ‘an integral part of the diverse community it serves’.

The school – based on Melbourne Road and part of L.E.A.D. Academy Trust – received a glowing report from Ofsted following their most recent inspection. Inspectors determined the school has taken ‘effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection’, in which the school was found to be ‘Good’ in all categories.

Inspectors found ‘respect, care and kindness feature in all aspects of school life’, and that the school has ‘thought carefully how to support all pupils to achieve well, whatever their starting point’.

Furthermore, Ofsted highlighted how the school is ‘ambitious for pupils’ and is ‘determined that all pupils will achieve highly’. Inspectors praised the school’s approach to pupil development, both inside and outside of the classroom, outlining how adults know and understand ‘the needs of individual pupils and make sure they are catered for’.

Key highlights within the report include:

• The school has ‘thought carefully about the important information they want pupils to learn’, making sure that ‘pupils learn the knowledge and skills they need to be successful’.
• Pupils ‘settle to work quickly, get on harmoniously together and achieve well’. Pupils ‘respect one another’ and are taught ‘how to manage their emotions if they get upset and know that adults are on hand to help them’.
• Pupils at the early stages of reading, or learning English, receive ‘extra help swiftly’. Pupils also have ‘lots of opportunity to practise their reading’.
• The school ‘identifies the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well’. Staff ‘ensure that learning is well adapted to meet pupils’ needs’, and this ‘supports them in accessing the same curriculum as their peers’.
• Pupils ‘relish taking on leadership responsibilities’ as school councillors and play leaders. Pupils ‘enjoy taking part in the extensive range of clubs on offer, at all times of the school day’.
• The school ‘makes sure that pupils are prepared for life beyond school’.
• Staff at Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy ‘know that leaders take care of their well-being’.
• Governors and colleagues at L.E.A.D. Academy Trust ‘work closely with the school to make sure it focuses on the right things’, keeping ‘pupils at the heart of all the decisions they make’.