Yarlside Academy is Outstanding in all areas

Following an inspection at the start of November, Yarlside Academy has been graded Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted. The two-day inspection, which took place directly after October half term, saw inspectors meet with pupils, staff, senior leaders, trustees and governors during their visit to Yarlside Academy and also took parent feedback into consideration when deciding their final outcome judgements.
The report, due to be published this week, begins by stating that “pupils thrive at this school. They arrive with beaming smiles and visible enthusiasm for the day ahead.” Inspectors commented that pupils have highly positive attitudes to learning, behaviour is impeccable and they take their learning seriously.

The new Ofsted framework no longer provides a single word grading, but instead grades five different areas; quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and early years provision. Yarlside Academy achieved an Outstanding grading in each of these five areas.

Achievement at Yarlside Academy is high with published results for reading, writing and mathematics consistently well above national average. Inspectors recognised this and commented that the pupils at Yarlside “benefit from a highly aspirational and broad curriculum” that is “meticulously designed…with consistency and precision”.

Yarlside Academy is a proud member of Furness Education Trust. Ofsted inspectors commented that “the trust and the school have a strong shared vision of high-quality education and achievement for all”. It was noted that the pupils at Yarlside “live and breathe this aspiration”.

The school was also praised for the experiences and opportunities it offers to its pupils, with “pupils’ learning enriched by experiences that bring the curriculum to life”. Alongside this, it was noted that the work to promote pupil personal and character development at the school is “exceptional” with so many opportunities to learn about the diverse world around them, supported by the trust who have forged links to “further enrich the curriculum”.
Ofsted wrote that “the school goes above and beyond the expected in ensuring that pupils can develop their interests and talents” with an “impressive range of extra-curricular activities”. Inspectors finished the report by stating, “quality of education remains exceptional at the school”.

Janine Pierce, Executive Headteacher of both Yarlside Academy and Victoria Academy and Primary Lead for Furness Education Trust said “At Yarlside, we have worked extremely hard towards ensuring our school maintained Outstanding criteria. This inspection framework is much more rigorous and has changed dramatically since the last inspection. Our Outstanding results across all five areas is down to the dedication, commitment and passion from the whole school team. I am incredibly proud that the inspectors recognised that our pupils behaviour is impeccable and that they live and breathe the high aspirations we have for them. We have worked hard to ensure our curriculum is broad, aspirational, high-quality, whilst being enriched with opportunities for our pupils to develop and grow. I continue to be incredibly proud of the education offer we have here at Yarlside Academy and that we have maintained our Outstanding outcome.”Mrs Pierce also said, “I would also like to thank our parents and community for their continued support. We are very grateful.”

Simon Laheney, Chief Executive Officer of Furness Education Trust said, “All of us at Furness Education Trust are delighted that Yarlside Academy has been graded Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted. This is the second Ofsted inspection this year at our trust schools and I am proud to say, our second Outstanding outcome. Both schools have been exceptionally led by Janine Pierce whose expertise and commitment, alongside her hard-working and dedicated teams have resulted in two excellent outcomes. I am pleased that Ofsted recognised the strength of our primary curriculum, of the high levels of aspiration we have for our pupils and the breadth of opportunities afforded to our young people. Yarlside Academy continues to be an Outstanding school and we are pleased that is has been formally recognised as so. The trust is incredibly proud of Yarlside Academy and of the educational offer we provide to the young people in our schools”.
The school was last inspected in 2013 when it received an Outstanding Ofsted rating. This is the school’s first inspection under the new Ofsted framework.