This in from Sandown Bay Academy, in their own words. Ed
Her Majesty’s Inspectors carried out a monitoring visit at Sandown Bay Academy on Monday 19th January 2015 to check on the progress of the academy since coming out of Special Measures in October 2014.
The visit concluded that the academy is taking effective action towards becoming a good school. In a letter to the Principal, Eric Jackson, the Inspector highlighted a number of actions that backed up her judgement:
- The Principal has provided firm, decisive and practical leadership which has strengthened the stability of the academy.
- The relentless focus on raising standards has boosted staff morale and built on their confidence.
- The academy benefits from precisely targeted support commissioned by the local authority and the academy trust. The management board share academy leaders’ increased ambition and aspirations. Their evaluation of the academy’s performance is realistic and detailed. Middle leaders have been following a tailored coaching programme, which has successfully developed their skills when monitoring their subject areas. In addition, you have forged strong links with good and improving schools on the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, in order to share effective practice.
- Information about students’ progress is more streamlined and helpful for teachers’ lesson planning.
- There are encouraging signs that students are gaining more confidence in mathematics skills.
- Initiatives to improve literacy have been introduced.
- Students are demonstrating they can work harder
- Teachers are managing student’s behaviour more consistently and effectively. As a result students’ attitude to learning have improved, which is leading to better academic progress.
The reporting inspector found it particularly impressive and heartening to hear academy leaders and teachers talking about individual students by name and the difference being made to their well-being and achievement through effective programmes of support.
Principal, Eric Jackson said,
“I am really pleased with the comments in the report and especially since only 9 working weeks had elapsed since the previous inspection.
“I am particularly proud of the staff and students. Since joining the academy I cannot fault their commitment and determination to make Sandown Bay Academy a good school. I feel that I am now leading a really good team of people who are lapping up the recognition they are receiving and then going to be even better.”
Image: aidan_jones under CC BY 2.0
