Four Acorn Academies achieve Ofsted success

Acorn Academy Cornwall, an Alternative Provision, Multi-Academy Trust, has achieved Ofsted success with Outstanding judgements across the board for two of its schools.

Penwith APA in Penzance and The Community and Hospital Education Service (CHES) APA in Tolvaddon have been judged in a recent inspection as Outstanding in leadership and management, behaviour and safety of pupils, quality of teaching and achievement of pupils.

Penwith APA is a Pupil Referral Unit for seven to 16 year olds. Ofsted said: “Parents are overwhelmingly pleased with the school and with the improvements in their children’s achievements and personal development. Students behaviour in and around the school is almost always exemplary and their attendance rises rapidly once they start at the school. Students are safe and secure and leadership has ensured very high levels of improvement and high quality training, resulting in outstanding teaching and achievement.”

The Community and Hospital Education Service is a SEN school for five to 16 year olds and exists to provide education for pupils who are unable to attend school for medical reasons. Its ethos is that children and young people with health needs which impact on their attendance at school should have access to high quality education, with a view to returning to school as soon as possible.

Ofsted said “Innovative leadership at CHES has resulted in high quality teaching, which has enabled students to make outstanding improvements in literacy and numeracy during their time at the school. A high proportion of students quickly integrate back into mainstream and attendance improves rapidly. Parents and carers are very supportive of the school and are extremely pleased with their children’s progress and personal development.”

Rob Gasson, CEO of Acorn Academy Cornwall, said: “We are delighted with our Outstanding judgement as it underlines the excellent work being done by all our leadership teams and our pupils.”

“We provide the relevant, high quality support to enable pupils who are disengaged from education, so that they can integrate back into mainstream or special needs schools, the world of work or further education. Ultimately our ethos is about equipping children appropriately so that they can have access to better outcomes in education and in life.”

Alternative Provision Academies provide education for mainstream pupils who have been permanently excluded or are at risk of permanent exclusion. Acorn Academy Cornwall, which is sponsored by Acorn Care and Education, was formed in June 2013 when seven Pupil Referral Units which were originally managed by Cornwall Council, converted to Academy status.

Two further schools within Acorn Academy Cornwall have also received Good Ofsted judgements in all categories.

Glynn House in Truro was deemed by Ofsted to be “quickly improving in all areas…the new head has ensured effective staff training, Year 11 students are achieving GCSE passes and a range of Functional Skills qualifications that will support their future and students who left Year 11 at the end of 2014 all found college placements or employment. Children are well prepared for the future.”

North Cornwall APA in Delabole, was seen by Ofsted to have had “a rapid improvement in students achievements. Parents are extremely pleased with the school and are very positive about their children’s behaviour and progress. Through regular attendance and positive behaviour students earn weekly trips into the community and regularly raise funds for charity. Staff are overwhelmingly positive about the leadership and management of the school.”

Acorn Care and Education which is the Academy sponsor is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education, foster care and residential care for vulnerable and hard to reach children.

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