Latest Ofsted Report

I am delighted to share with you the outcome of our recent Ofsted Monitoring Inspection, which took place on 14 July 2026. The report has now been published and is available for you to read.

First and foremost, I would like to thank our students, staff, families, governors, Interim Executive Board members and trust colleagues for their continued support. School improvement is a collective effort, and it is encouraging to see the progress that inspectors have recognised. 

There are many positives highlighted within the report, including:

Improved relationships and school culture

Ofsted found that our work is built around a pupil-centred approach and that pupils themselves recognise increasingly strong and trusting relationships with staff. Inspectors also reported that improvements in behaviour have been maintained and that attitudes to learning have become notably more consistent. 

Positive parental feedback

One of the most encouraging aspects of the report is the recognition of the significant increase in positive parental feedback. Inspectors highlighted that this demonstrates the impact of our efforts to rebuild relationships with families and strengthen our partnership with the wider community. 

Inclusion and support for students

Inspectors praised the school's inclusive approach and recognised the impact of our multi-disciplinary inclusion systems. They found that students are receiving increasingly holistic and wraparound support, with pupils and parents reporting positively on the difference this provision is making.

Attendance improvements

Attendance remains a key priority, and inspectors acknowledged that attendance for key groups continues to improve as a result of the systems, processes and additional capacity now in place. They recognised that issues are identified and addressed more quickly than before. We know that there is still a lot of work to do here and we would encourage families to liaise with us on the best ways to help us continue to improve. 

Curriculum and teaching

The report notes that leaders have a clear understanding of what needs to improve and have taken appropriate action. Inspectors highlighted the successful trial of a new assessment approach and reported that students have a better understanding of what they are learning and why. They also recognised the school's comprehensive programme of staff development and quality assurance.

Strong leadership and governance

Inspectors recognised that the school's improvement strategy is now "well established" and that the systems and processes introduced are "firmly embedded". They noted stability within the leadership team, growing expertise and a clear understanding of the school's strengths and priorities. 

A note about Page 1 of the report

When reading the published report, I would ask families to pay particular attention to Page 2 onwards, which contains the findings and judgements from the July 2026 monitoring inspection.

The information shown on Page 1 is a summary of the areas for improvement identified during the school's graded inspection in January 2025. It is included by Ofsted as historical context and does not represent inspectors' current view of the school.

10452472 shire oak academy 136620 final pdf.pdf

 

Thank you again for your continued support of our school. While we recognise that there is still work to do, we are proud that Ofsted has acknowledged the progress made so far and the strong foundations now in place. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing our journey of improvement for every child at Shire Oak Academy.

Matthew Everett
Headteacher
Shire Oak Academy