Staff and pupils at a Swindon Academy are celebrating the results of its latest inspection by Ofsted.
Following a visit from Ofsted inspectors prior to the summer holidays Dorcan Academy has been judged ‘good’ in all areas – the first time in the school’s history that it has received the rating.
Ofsted noted how the school’s values of respect, honesty, endeavour and sportsmanship permeate the school and how pupils learn, how ambitious the school is for its pupils, and the calm and purposeful atmosphere.
Inspectors also praised the lack of bullying at the school and in the rare incident, how it is dealt with.
Sherryl Bareham, Head Teacher at Dorcan Academy, said: “This is a remarkable achievement and is testament to the passion, hard work, dedication and resilience of all our staff that have been with us on this journey.
“Seven years ago we were judged Inadequate; at the last inspection we Required Improvement but Leadership was judged Good and now – finally, we are Good in all areas.
“You might ask how we have done it?! The answer is: There is no single action, no gigantic program, no miracle scenario, no killer invention, and no lucky break.
“We took time to get the right people on the bus in the right seats. And then, we began to ‘turn the wheel’. (Igor Stravinsky). We worked hard and we maintained the unwavering belief that our students can do anything that we are able to teach them and that there is no ceiling to their achievement.”
In response to the school receiving their first Good report, Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland said: “I am delighted that the hard work and efforts of all of the dedicated team at The Dorcan Academy have been recognised and are reflected in their most recent Ofsted report.
“I am in regular contact with the Head, Mrs Bareham, and I regularly enjoy visiting the school, where I am able to witness first-hand the hard work and dedication of both staff and pupils.
“The Dorcan Academy has successfully dealt with many challenges, especially during the Covid pandemic. During this difficult time, the staff continued to go above and beyond to support the mental and physical well-being of all pupils, working hard to raise morale.
“The school has an excellent SEN support team, and a huge amount of work is carried out at the school on raising aspirations. The Dorcan Academy has built up excellent links with local universities, with pupils regularly visiting these universities and taking part in a wide range of educational activities. University students also regularly visit the school.
“The Dorcan Academy has also built up a fantastic work experience scheme, with excellent links to local businesses. Employees from many local businesses regularly visit the school and participate in talks and activities, which have been carefully developed by the school to raise aspirations and inspire pupils. These vital links are often expanded upon after a pupil has left the school.
“The Dorcan Academy also has strong links with many successful ex-pupils, who return to the school to talk to students about the various paths that they have taken to access their chosen career/achieve their goals, for example, apprenticeships, college courses, and university degrees.
“Dorcan is a strong and inclusive school whose close-knit staff go above and beyond, often in difficult circumstances, to encourage and inspire their pupils and ensure that they realise their self-worth and reach their full potential, and this is reflected in their most recent Ofsted report.”
