A ‘safe, positive and nurturing’ school has been rated good by inspectors.

The Aspire Academy in Warndon, Worcester, was praised by inspectors Ofsted who gave the school a ‘good’ rating for how it gave children a ‘fresh start.’

Pupils told inspectors that attitudes at the school in Bridgwater Road made them feel that they mattered.

“Leaders know that for many of their pupils, education has been difficult in the past, so they work hard to give them a fresh start,” Ofsted said in a report based on an inspection in June.

 “Staff create a safe, positive and nurturing environment. They take the time to get to know the pupils well.

“Adults seize every opportunity, such as chatting over lunch, to build trusting and positive relationships.

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“Pupils appreciate this and say that coming to this school has made them feel that they matter.”

Ofsted said most pupils were well-prepared for life after school and many achieved a range of qualifications and “build their resilience and self-esteem.”

Inspectors said pupils “behaved well in most lessons” but the school often experienced “challenging behaviour” that was nevertheless quickly dealt with by staff.

“Pupils listen carefully to their teachers and are keen to join in,” Ofsted said. “Teachers keep a close eye on pupils’ learning. They spot when pupils are stuck and act swiftly to give them the help they need.

“Pupils greatly appreciate this and say it is making a positive difference to their learning.

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“At times, there is the potential for these behaviours to disrupt learning, but adults act quickly and intelligently to calm any issues before they escalate,” Ofsted added. “This all helps to create a calm and orderly environment.

“Pupils often have negative attitudes towards learning when they join the school. Leaders know this, and they do not use it as an excuse to lower their expectations of pupils. They ensure, for example, that pupils study a wide range of subjects that build logically over time.

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“Leaders are ambitious for pupils. They place a strong emphasis on celebrating pupils’ personal development and academic achievements.”

Inspectors said the school did not always ensure that pupils at the earliest stages of reading were getting the help they needed and were not catching up quickly enough.

The school also needed to improve how it reviewed targeted one-to-one support.