3 days ago
Outstanding secondary school in deprived area which is among Birmingham's best
A secondary school located in one of Birmingham's most deprived areas has been named as one of the city's best following a glowing Ofsted inspection.
The E-ACT Heartlands Academy has been rated outstanding in all four key areas assessed by inspectors in a rare achievement - especially for an inner-city high school.
The academy is based in Nechells, one of the more deprived areas of the city - and that naturally brings more challenges for teachers.
READ MORE: Latest Midlands Ofsted ratings as three top schools 'outstanding' in all areas
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But Heartlands has more than risen to those challenges. In fact, the school has continually defied the odds, having been ranked among the best for years now.
Crucially, Ofsted says "disadvantaged pupils achieve as highly as their peers".
It may have been an anxious time for leaders eager to maintain that reputation as Ofsted returned for a new full inspection in March, the first in over a decade during which time things could have changed.
But they needn't have worried. The results have now been published and the school was once again graded as outstanding across the board - achieving a perfect score.
Ofsted's grading system has changed since their last visit to the Great Francis Street school.
Rather than a single one-word overall grade, the watchdog now rates secondaries in the following four areas: quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management.
The school, which has over 800 pupils, was graded outstanding in all of these areas.
Ofsted said in its report: "Pupils enjoy school. They know that when they walk through the school gates they are safe and surrounded by people who want them to succeed and be happy.
"Pupils understand the school's expectations of their behaviour and meet these, as they want to play their part in the school's harmonious culture. They show respect, and often kindness, in their interactions with peers and staff."
The report continued: "The school has a clear commitment to academic excellence and equips pupils with the knowledge and skills they need for future success.
"This is realised through its ambitious curriculum, which is accessed successfully by all pupils. Pupils achieve strong outcomes.
"For example, impressively high numbers of pupils secure the English and mathematics qualifications they need for their future learning. Disadvantaged pupils achieve as highly as their peers."
