A NORTH East academy has been praised following a rigorous, unannounced inspection.
Her Majesty's Inspectors visited Bede Academy, in Blyth, to carry out a no notice monitoring inspection.
Five inspectors observed lessons, tutorials and assemblies at both Bede’s Primary and Secondary sites. They interviewed staff and students and reviewed documents including safeguarding and child protection policies, attendance records, minutes of governors’ meetings and schemes of work.
In its most recent full inspection by Ofsted in 2012, the academy was judged to be good and quickly improving, with some teaching rated as outstanding. The HMI inspectors upheld the good judgement.
They said the academy offered a broad range of subjects and the curriculum “is well matched to students’ needs and provides well for their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development”.
They added: “Students achieve well. High expectations are clear throughout the academy and students are encouraged to strive for academic success.
“Students are proud to wear the academy uniform, have positive attitudes to each other and to adults, and play a key role in making the academy a harmonious and pleasant community to work in and be part of.”
Bede Academy is part of the Emmanuel Schools Foundation and the inspectors noted: “The Foundation has been effective in brokering a significant range of support in the areas of leadership and management, and teaching and learning to help drive improvements in the academy.”
Principal Gwyneth Evans said: "This was not a full Ofsted inspection but nevertheless was extremely thorough and we received no warning that the inspectors were coming, which makes their positive comments all the more encouraging.
“They commented upon the excellent behaviour of our students and the courtesy shown to them by everyone in the Academy in the two days they were with us. They left satisfied and upheld our previous Ofsted good judgement, which takes us into 2015 determined to continue our drive for improvements.”