As you may know, Ofsted has introduced a new National Inspection Framework.

Under this framework, schools no longer receive a single overall judgement. Instead, inspectors evaluate schools across several areas, including safeguarding, personal development and wellbeing, achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, early years, inclusion and leadership and governance.

Following our inspection, The Milford Academy received a mixture of ‘expected standard’ and ‘needs attention’ judgements across these areas.

While the report identifies areas where further improvement is needed, it also highlights a number of positive aspects of school life. Inspectors noted that ‘pupils feel safe’ at school, ‘enjoy their learning’ and describe Milford as nurturing a ‘warm, respectful environment atmosphere where staff include them in all aspects of school life’.

The report particularly recognises the school’s strong commitment to pupils’ personal development and wellbeing, highlighting the wide range of experiences available to pupils. This includes enrichment visits and our ‘Milford Memories’ programme, which helps broaden pupils’ cultural and creative experiences. Inspectors also acknowledged the leadership opportunities available to pupils and the broad and ambitious curriculum in place across the school.

While there are wonderful positives noted within the report, there is, of course, always more work to be done. With this in mind, our entire team welcomes the report and recognises the areas identified for improvement. Many of these were already priorities within our school development plan, and we have clear actions underway to strengthen outcomes for all pupils.

Some of this includes improving:

• Pupils’ foundational knowledge in reading, writing and maths by providing staff training and ensuring a renewed focus on basics such as punctuation, handwriting and spelling.
• Attendance by working closely with families and our Education Welfare Officer to support pupils facing barriers and encourage regular attendance. We need your help here too!
• How adults interact with children during play to better support language and thinking in early years, and also ensure every interaction supports children’s learning and development.
• The school’s SEND provision which will be bolstered with the appointment of a new SEND leader who will join in the summer term to strengthen support for pupils with additional needs and ensure their progress is clearly tracked.

• How school information is reviewed by further integrating governors in the school and working closely with the school improvement adviser to ensure leaders continue driving improvements for all pupils.

If you wish to read the report in full, please follow this link - Ofsted report