Hastings Academy told to improve by Ofsted

The academy, in Rye Road, underwent a two-day inspection in January and the findings were published on February 9.

While rating the academy as ‘requires improvement’ for the second time since May 2013, lead inspector Helena Read recognised the stumbling blocks facing the leadership team.

She said principal Michael Brett and his team had “a clear view” of what to do to improve the academy but had been hindered by problems recruiting and keeping teachers.

In her report, Ms Read said: “Leaders have worked hard to secure and retain teachers for the academy, but despite their efforts this has not been entirely successful.

“As a result, many of the staff are new to the academy. This has limited the impact of leaders’ actions as significant numbers of staff have had to be inducted and trained at the same time.”

Ms Read highlighted a number of areas which needed addressing.

They included making “rapid improvements” in maths and developing a literacy programme to promote a love of reading, especially among boys.

She noted the behaviour of students “deteriorated” when lessons did not fully engage or challenge them, and advised staff not to tolerate “inappropriate calling out, low-level disruption or inattentiveness”.

Mr Brett described Ofsted’s new inspection framework as “more rigorous and challenging”, but added: “We are pleased the Ofsted team recognised our ambitious improvement agenda whilst acknowledging we have some way to go in embedding consistency of practice in certain areas.

“The academy has a committed team of staff, whilst a number are inexperienced, they have tremendous potential and are determined to drive the academy forward – as we work together to ensure we make rapid progress towards reinstating our overall judgement of ‘good’.”

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