OFSTED Update July 2023

6th July 2023

Dear Parent/ Carer,

As you know, Ofsted inspected our academy on the 22nd and 23rd May.  I am delighted that the school continues to be good and to have made good progress since the last report. 

I have attached the final report which contains many positives, of which we should all feel rightly proud.  I would draw your attention to the following comments:

  • Pupils and students value the way school life is about much more than lessons
  • Pupils are achieving increasingly better outcomes
  • There is a calm atmosphere in lessons and almost all pupils happily focus on their learning activities.  As one pupil put it, most people get it right most of the time
  • Pupils value diversity and embrace the school’s ethos of one world in one school
  • Through the Salter Scholar programme all pupils access an impressive range of opportunities which support their character development
  • Leaders aim to defy disadvantage and address any barriers pupils may face. This underpins both the curriculum and the personal development offer. The curriculum has been carefully mapped from Years 7 to 13
  • Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) follow the same ambitious curriculum as their peers
  • Pupils understand leaders’ expectations of behaviour and almost all meet these
  • The school’s work to support pupils personal development is commendable
  • The school’s strong careers programme supports pupils in making the best decisions about their future
  • Leaders have created a real culture of safeguarding at the school.  When necessary, leaders go above and beyond in securing the help or support those pupils or families may need.

During the inspection the inspectors undertook a range of rigorous activities including:

  • scrutiny of leaders’ curriculum plans
  • visits to  lessons
  • scrutiny of pupils’ work
  • meetings with talked with pupils
  • meetings to discuss safeguarding arrangements
  • visits to tutor times
  • observations of informal times of the day to evaluate safeguarding and pupils’ behaviour.
  • meetings  with the principal, senior leaders, subject leaders, teachers and pupils
  • reflections on responses to the online survey, Ofsted Parent View, including the free-text comments. Inspectors also considered responses to Ofsted’s staff and pupil surveys.

Whilst we are right to feel pleased with our report, everyone at George Salter Academy knows that our moral purpose is not to simply put things in place for a good inspection.  We plan for long term sustainable improvement and view school improvement as a never ending journey.  We know what is needed to continue to improve our fabulous school and will continue to plan accordingly.

It is right that we also take the time to reflect on our wider successes.  The academic achievement of our young people is really good, above national indicators and improving.  Our attendance rates are in the top 25% of all academies and well above the national rates.  The curriculum prepares young people well for the next step.  Our students leave for appropriate courses after both year 11 and year 13: more of our 6th Formers are going on to course at Russell Group universities than previously.  GSA NEET figures are among the lowest in Sandwell.  Our Salter Scholar programme means that our youngsters have a comprehensive offer of visits, guest lectures, competitions, and leadership opportunities that is envy of many other schools.  This year we have received the Inclusion Quality Award, ACE Character Award, Early Help Partnership Gold Award, Sandwell Mental Wellbeing Charter Mark and the Careers Mark award.  We are an honest and modest Black Country school that is, unlike some, guilty of not shouting loud enough about our very many successes: I make no apology for doing so here.

To continue to improve our academy during and post pandemic is a huge achievement.  Like all head teachers I am well aware that I stand on the shoulders of giants and am grateful that I lead the wider team of professionals that I do.  A team whose hard work, dedication and effort above and beyond what may be required serves our community so well.  Our wider team also includes our Trust partners OAT and I am delighted that their support for our academy gets a mention in the report.  Their Lead Practitioners have been essential to improving our curriculum design and pedagogy whilst the Education Director, Natasha Rancins, ensures our strategic focus is always right.  

We do not get everything right but it is not for the want of trying and accept our failures as key learning to further improve.  It is a privilege to work in and lead our academy and serve its community.  This is not a responsibility that anyone takes lightly and whilst we may have both good and bad days it is so pleasing to know that we get most things right.

Thank you for your support which, as always, is much appreciated.

Onwards and upwards.

Adrian Price

Principal

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