Alde Valley Academy in Leiston receives 'good' Ofsted rating

Alde Valley Academy, based in Leiston, was last rated in 2017, where the inspectors found that the school was 'good' in all areas.

The school was at risk of closure back in 2017 as it only had about 360 pupils – but this number has since risen to about 640.

Following a visit at the start of February, Ofsted inspectors found that pupils at the school are "happy and safe" and they "treat each other with tolerance and respect".

It also stated that "pupils enjoy lessons where they have the opportunity to engage and explore learning".

Alde Valley Academy were close to closing in 2017. Credit: Google Maps (Image: Google Maps)

Leaders were also praised in the report, with the recent redesign of the curriculum being praised as "effective".

It further said that "leaders have ensured that the key knowledge pupils should learn, and the order in which it is taught, is suitably identified and planned in each subject".

Dan Mayhew, headteacher at the school, said: "We are really pleased with the report overall.

"We are really pleased with the response we have received from the community.

"Over 93% of parents said they would recommend our school to another parent, and 93% again said that their child was happy and safe at our school.

"In September 2021 we appointed 14 new heads of department, which meant we were able to dig deeply into the granular set up of the whole curriculum.

Mr Dan Mayhew, headteacher at Alde Valley Academy in Leiston. Credit: Newsquest (Image: Archant)

"In September last year, we also appointed five new heads of year, ensuring the pastoral care, the attainment and behaviour of all of our pupils was well looked after.

"We are really please with the fact Ofsted noticed the work we had put in over the last 12 months on the curriculum."

The report found that safeguarding at the school is "effective" and leaders have ensured that staff are "well trained so they can identify potential safeguarding concerns".