Ofsted Inspection Visit to Capital City Academy On the 18th and 19th May 2005, two senior inspectors from Ofsted carried out an inspection visit of the school. They have now sent us a letter confirming the findings of their inspection. The letter will be published on the Ofsted website in June and a full copy of the letter may be obtained from the school office or this website - Ofsted Report. Key points from their findings are:- - 2004 GCSE results (29% achieving 5 or more grades A*-C) were much higher than expected based on the pupils’ starting points at the beginning of Key Stage 4.
- The Principal and Governors have brought the focus for thinking, planning and action firmly on strategies for raising attainment and are leading the developments in the Academy very well.
- The calm and purposeful ethos in the Academy is an impressive tribute to the leadership skills of the Principal and his senior team.
- The enriching of the curriculum, making the pupils’ experiences in the Academy purposeful and fun, is rightly seen as a key strategy to raise attainment and improve pupils’ motivation to learn.
- Motivation is enhanced through the opportunities that the pupils have to take responsibility and share their skills, as in the sports tuition for primary pupils. Good external links have been established in sport and in the arts.
- The pupils are responding well to the opportunities to take responsibility for themselves and for other pupils. Many pupils contributed to the inspiring Year 8 assembly, presenting ideas and listening with interest.
- In the out-of-hours activities, the pupils spoke positively about their experiences and proudly about their achievements. The pupils were friendly and helpful to the visitors. They have already built constructive relationships with the adults who work in the Academy.
- The target set for the current Year 11 pupils of 30 per cent to achieve five or more A* to C grades in the GCSE examinations this summer is ambitious, given their starting points. The Academy has purposefully set challenging targets to reaffirm that expectations are high.
- Sensibly, the use of assessment information to help the pupils understand how well they are achieving, and what they need to do to improve, is another major thrust currently. Rightly, consolidating these skills, as well as ensuring that the teachers assess standards accurately, remains a top priority.
- The behaviour and attitudes of the pupils have improved as the Academy has made its expectations clearer and improved the structures for organising and managing the pupils.
- Typically, the pupils were courteous and respectful in lessons. Where the teaching gave them confidence and the learning activities were suited to their needs, the pupils were enthusiastic and engrossed in their work. More generally, the pupils knew how they should behave and responded well to the unobtrusive way in which the teachers dealt with minor misdemeanours.
- The present rates of absence and lateness are unsatisfactory and are a barrier to achievement. The improved attendance rate of 90.5 per cent for the spring term of this year is lower than the national average. Many pupils do not move to their next lesson swiftly enough.
- Underpinning all the above developments has been a major emphasis on improving the quality of teaching. As routines are becoming more secure across the staff, the emphasis is shifting appropriately towards developing the pupils’ learning skills.
- The quality of teaching was good in approximately a half of the 19 lessons observed. In the most effective lessons, the pace was brisk and the varied tasks cleverly reinforced the demanding learning objectives. Overall, the quality of teaching was at least satisfactory in all lessons bar two.
- The use of interactive white boards enabled written information, diagrams and video to be quickly, and helpfully, brought in as teaching aids.
- The present organisation of the curriculum is satisfactory but does not meet the needs and aspirations of all learners. Plans for next year’s curriculum should improve the situation. At Key Stage 4, there will be a wider range of subjects on offer and more flexible pathways for individuals, including vocational courses.
- The Governors and the Principal have demonstrated that they can take stock of strengths and weaknesses and set the Academy running in the right direction. Much has been achieved in the Academy’s second year.
- The senior team and the Governors have the capacity to improve the provision Rightly, all recognised that there is much that still needs to be done and much that could, excitingly, be developed over time.
- Further action which the Academy should consider as a high priority in order to raise attainments:-
a) improve the pupils’ literacy skills efficiently and effectively; b) improve the pupils’ rates of attendance and punctuality; c) improve the use of assessment. I am proud of our school and the progress we are making which has been confirmed by this inspection visit. We will focus our planning for next year on the areas identified by the inspectors. I am sure you will join me in thanking the staff for their hard and effective work which is reflected in the inspection findings – and in praising our students for their improved work and behaviour. With best wishes, Philip O’Hear
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