Hethersett Academy vows to continue work to improve behaviour after Ofsted visit

An inspector visited Hethersett Academy, part of the Inspiration Trust, on December 2 after they received a complaint one year earlier about behaviour at the school.

The report found that 'leaders and managers have not taken effective action to improve behaviour and secure consistently positive attitudes to learning', but added that they have 'put clear systems in place to encourage constructive behaviour in the classroom'.

It continued: 'However, too many teachers do not follow the academy's behaviour policy and this limits the effectiveness of their attempts to respond to poor behaviour. The number of students who have had to be removed from lessons has broadly remained constant since the academy opened.'

The inspector noted how 'most students do move around the site in a calm and orderly manner' and praised a new rewards system where students can earn vouchers for school items and food for positive behaviour.

To improve, the report suggested that 'all staff apply the academy's behaviour policy at all times', as well as reduce the number of students who have to be removed from lessons.

Behaviour in lessons taught by a substitute member of staff should also be addressed.

The academy, which has not had a full Ofsted inspection since it switched from a high school in March 2013, joined the Inspiration Trust in January last year.

A spokesperson for the trust said: 'We recognise that more needs to be done to improve behaviour at the school as part of our work to turn the school around from a failing school to a school that delivers the best education for its students.'

They said that the school and trust were implementing 'revised behavioural rules', which were clarified after a behaviour audit in July last year.

'The school will deal more strictly with unacceptable behaviour and we have introduced a rewards system to encourage good behaviour,' they added.

What do you think of the school? Email lauren.cope@archant.co.uk