Lightcliffe Academy, located on Stoney Lane, Lightcliffe has been rated good in all four inspected categories - the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.
This positive report marks a ratings turnaround for the school. Ofsted said, “This school is welcoming of, and highly ambitious for, all pupils, irrespective of their background or ability.” Speaking to inspectors, pupils at the academy talked proudly of the “welcoming atmosphere which enables pupils to be themselves”.
Jo Hackett, Head of School, joined Lightcliffe Academy in January 2023, signalling a new era for the school. Jo said, “I took up the post of Head at Lightcliffe Academy because I could see the brilliance in our young people and how committed and invested our staff are. The school has been on a significant journey, and I have always been confident that we could make it a great place for our students to learn and grow. This is at the heart of our ambitious vision, and the Ofsted outcome confirms what we have achieved.”
Helen Pratten and Catherine Garrett, co-CEOs of the Trust, said, “We are delighted with the report which recognises the significant improvements secured since the last inspection and the commitment of leaders and staff as a whole to make Lightcliffe the school of choice for the local community.” Paul Cooper, Executive Principal for Secondary at Abbey Multi Academy Trust added "We are delighted with this deserved outcome, which is testament to the strong academy leadership and shared commitment of the whole community”
The school was praised for its “well- considered and ambitious quality of education”, which included a “real commitment to develop pupils’ readiness for life beyond school” with the SHARED character curriculum praised for how it “threads through every part of the school’s work”.
The report noted the importance of reading at the school: “There is a whole-school focus to improve pupils’ reading skills. Structured strategies build pupils’ vocabulary and comprehension, while those pupils who find reading difficult receive the support that they need to catch up.”
Read the full report online at: https://www.lightcliffeacademy.co.uk/academy-information/ofsted
