Daventry academy classed as '˜Good' after Ofsted inspection

The report graded the school as ‘Good’ in all six categories including overall effectiveness, which was previously ranked as ‘Inadequate’ at the last inspection in June 2015.

The academy has improved significantly since then, much to the delight of DSLV’s headteacher Simon Cotton.

He said: “I am extremely proud of DSLV’s significant progression. Our focus over this period has been an uncompromising drive towards excellence, in particular within the classroom setting. It is this focus which has rapidly driven up standards and supported the progress of our pupils.

“DSLV, like many other E-ACT academies, serves a disadvantaged community that has historically lacked adequate educational provision. This is especially acute in Daventry which has not had secondary provision rated Good or better since 2011; a town where, as a result, many pupils commute to other schools out of the area. DSLV’s Ofsted rating as a Good school is therefore key to the further development of a rapidly growing town.”

Mr Cotton was praised in the report for being ‘relentless in his drive to improve standards’, and is noted as having raised expectations around the ‘quality of teaching, pupils’ behaviour and their achievement’.

In the quality of teaching, learning and assessment category, teacher pupil relationships are described as being strong, leading to pupils ‘learning well’. DSLV teachers are praised for planning their classroom activities ‘to meet the needs of pupils of different levels of ability.’

Pupils were said to have a positive attitude towards learning, and they conduct themselves well around the school.

Relationships between children and adults in the early years were described as strong.

Early years staff are praised for ‘working closely with the parents of children who enter nursery’.

Regarding the older students at the academy, the sixth form was praised for its ‘close and individual support’ afforded to its 16 and 19-year-olds, with inspectors describing student teacher relationships as excellent.

Areas highlighted for improvement included embedding further the improvements in the quality of teaching, to ensure all teaching is as good as the best.