Ofsted Reports
All state-funded schools in England are inspected by Ofsted. This includes local authority-run schools, academies and free schools, as well as non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units and further education/sixth form colleges. Ofsted also inspects some independent schools.
School inspection is currently set out in legislation through the Education Act 2005. In this act, the regular two-day inspection is described as a Section 5 inspection and ‘other inspection’ is described as a Section 8 inspection (in England).
Schools which have a grade of ‘urgent improvement’ or ‘needs attention’ have more regular monitoring, alongside support to improve their rating.
Ofsted inspectors look at nine areas:
- Safeguarding
- Inclusion
- Curriculum and teaching
- Achievement
- Attendance and behaviour
- Personal development and well-being
- Early years
- Post-16 provision
- Leadership and governance
Schools receive a judgement for each of the inspection areas. For safeguarding, the judgement is that the standards are met or not met. For all the other areas, the grades are:
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
Ofsted report
The most recent Ofsted inspection at Erdington Academy took place on the 18th and 19th April 2023. The school was judged to be GOOD in all areas.
During our most recent inspection, Ofsted identified the following strengths, among others:
- Leaders have high expectations of all pupils. They ensure that the values of excellence, dedication, tradition, integrity and ambition are central to the school’s culture.
- Pupils have access to a broad curriculum, which is ambitious for all, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils enjoy their learning.
- Leaders have developed an exciting and ambitious curriculum for all pupils.
- Leaders have prioritised reading, encouraging pupils to become confident and fluent readers. Staff are trained to support pupils who find reading difficult. This has rapidly improved pupils’ confidence in reading in key stage 3.
- The school’s personal development programme is of a high quality. Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum, called ‘The Edge’. This takes into account specific challenges that might be faced by pupils.
- The school’s careers programme is comprehensive. It is well planned, giving pupils access to high-quality information about careers.
Parent view
Ofsted takes into account the views of parents and carers giving parents the chance to tell Ofsted what they think of your child’s school, responding to the questions asked.
The questionnaire can be completed at any time – you don’t have to wait until the school is being inspected.