Case Study – Red House Secondary Academy

Red House Academy is a smaller than average secondary school, with around 440 students on roll.  The school has a much higher proportion of pupil premium students than the national average.  The vast majority of students are of white British heritage.

Northern Education Trust began sponsoring Red House Academy in October 2014, with the school being rated by Ofsted as requires improvement at that time.  The school improvement strategies employed by the trust were implemented and embedded, resulting in a transformed academy, rated good by Ofsted in its most recent inspection in January 2020.

Ofsted recognised the rapid improvements, saying that “Leaders have done an excellent job of raising everyone’s expectations.  Students and staff can all feel the difference.  Leaders have instilled a new sense of pride in the school, appointed new teachers, broadened the range of subjects available and transformed behavior.”

Sharply focused teaching, along with an improved curriculum, helped students to grow in confidence, which in turn raised their aspirations to progress to sixth form and university.  Students’ behaviour and attitudes had massively improved, with the academy demonstrating a calm, caring and supportive atmosphere, and a culture of positivity in the classroom.