A South Holland school has a broad curriculum and high expectations of its students, according to a recent Ofsted report.
But University Academy Holbeach needs to improve bother leadership, management and the quality of education.
The report awards ‘good’ grade for behaviour and attitude; personal development and sixth form provision.
But inspectors said the quality of education and leadership ‘requires improvement.’
Ofsted no longer awards a one-word grade overall, but last time it did, the school was rated as good.
A member of the University of Lincoln Academy Trust, the school has 1,420 pupils aged from 11 to 18 on the roll, and the principal is Sheila Paige.
“The curriculum provides a very broad range of academic and vocational subjects. There are high expectations for what all pupils can achieve, including pupils who are disadvantaged or pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities,” says the report.
But it carries on to say the curriculum is not always delivered ‘as effectively as it could be, pupils do not always achieve as well as they should.’
There is praise for the wider development of pupils who have a variety of extra-curricular opportunities in sports, the performing arts and other pastimes ‘that interest them’.
“The school provides well for pupils’ wider development. Pupils learn how to live active, healthy lifestyles,” says the report.
But students don’t always benefit from the curriculum as well as they should ‘because it is not always delivered consistently.’
The inspection noted that “Any gaps in pupils’ knowledge are not always identified or corrected. When pupils meet new concepts, they can struggle to make links to what they know already.
“Furthermore, some teachers do not check carefully enough how well pupils have understood new information,” it adds.
There has been a mixed reaction to the report, with many people taking to social media to criticise the school, while others praised it from their own experiences.
“My three grandchildren have attended the school with no problems. The eldest left with amazing exam results and is doing extremely well.
“The other two are both doing well. Have you thought it’s not always the teachers’ fault when things go wrong?” said Denise Bryan.
But another said she would ‘never send’ her child to UAH and claimed her friends were taking their children out.
“I’m adamant my son isn’t going there. Spalding Academy all the way for my boy,” said Louise Munton-Huskisson.
