Skegness Academy aiming for ‘good’ after release from special measures

The whole school - more than 1,000 pupils - crammed into the school quad and raised the roof with a cheer that could be heard at nearby properties along Burgh Road.

Sponsor Greenwood Academies Trust said this recognition is testament to the strong leadership of Principal Todd Johnson, and the hard work of pupils, parents and staff.

Mr Johnson certainly couldn’t hide his joy on Friday. He said: “It’s absolutely amazing. Such a reason for celebration. For 32 months Skegness Academy has been in Special Measures and on January 14 Ofsted said, in every area of our school, we no longer need that Special Measures.

“I am incredibly proud of our pupils and staff for this achievement, and am thrilled that Ofsted has recognised our hard work.

“The quality of education we deliver, and standard of teaching - everything has improved.

“Back in August we were celebrating the best results at the school for three or four years and a significant increase of a third of the grades.

“Providing our pupils with a safe, challenging and rewarding education experience is our top priority and while this outcome is a testament to our dedication and ongoing efforts, I look forward to continuing to work alongside our pupils, parents and staff to ensure our lasting success.

”We plan to stay on this trajectory for the next 30 months when we will be reinspected - and we will be going for ‘Good’.

The Ofsted report also highlights the positive school culture, noting that pupils are “very positive about the relationship they have with staff” and feel well supported.

Pupils also shared that they “know that their school is getting better all the time” and “recognise that their teachers want them to do well and have their best interests at heart”.

The inspectors found that new initiatives to encourage positive behaviour, including a warning card system and rewards such as “tea with the Principal”, are also having a positive impact and that pupils “feel safe and cared for”.

The report also said that new strategies to help develop literacy skills such as ‘Lit-fit’, which introduces pupils to new vocabulary, and DEAR (drop everything and read) are helping pupils to develop a new-found love of reading.

The head boy and girl certainly appreciate the support. Matthew Mitchell, 19, has been at the school for four years and said: “I feel very proud at what the school has achieved. It’s not easy to get out of a hole but the school coming out of Special Measures fills me with confidence in my own future.”

Head girl Jade Harrison, 18, joined the school two years ago and added: “Moving here from a different school makes me realise how much support we get here from the teaching staff.”

The senior leadership team and staff at Skegness Academy were also praised by Ofsted for the “range of opportunities to promote pupils’ personal development” and recognised the curriculum for supporting pupils’ mental and physical wellbeing through sport such as boxing and swimming, and preparing pupils for their next steps with visits to local universities and advice tailored to their individual aspirations.

This also means that of Greenwood’s six academies in Skegness, four are now rated ‘Good’, Skegness Academy has upgraded to ‘Requires Improvement’, and one is not yet inspected.

Wayne Norrie, Chief Executive Officer of Greenwood Academies Trust, said: “The whole team at Skegness Academy has worked tirelessly to implement and achieve rapid progress across the Academy.

“The staff, pupils and parents at Skegness Academy have really embraced the changes, and I am so proud to see their hard work recognised in this Ofsted report.”