MORTON ACADEMY RATED ‘GOOD’ ACROSS THE BOARD BY OFSTED

As students across the country return to school this week, those at Morton Academy in Carlisle are celebrating after the school was judged ‘Good’ by Ofsted across all four assessment categories.

Following a visit to the school in July, Ofsted inspectors have recognised the positive culture that has been fostered at Morton Academy which contributes to students feeling happy to attend the school, wanting to work hard and being “eager to succeed”.

In their report, inspectors point to the many improvements that have been successfully implemented across the school in recent years. Students are said to benefit from a “carefully designed” and “ambitious” curriculum and staff with strong subject knowledge, both of which are fuelling students’ progress in many subjects.

The report highlights that this includes students with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who are able to learn successfully, enjoy their time at school and ultimately move on to “meaningful destinations”.

Beyond academic outcomes in the classroom, the inspectors praise the school’s “well-designed” provision for students’ personal development with the young people enjoying a range of extra-curricular clubs that help to grow their resilience and independence, including Cooking, Choir and Debating. Ofsted likewise acknowledged the positive impact that a “thorough careers programme” has had on students making informed choices about their next steps.

Richard McGuire, Principal at Morton Academy, said of the outcome:

“As a school each year, we strive to provide the best possible education for all our students. To be judged ‘Good’ across all categories by Ofsted is a strong signal of the progress we have made, as well as of how we intend to begin the new academic year. I would like to thank all our students, staff and our wider school community for their ongoing support of the school.”

Ben Antell, Director of Secondary Education at United Learning, said:

“This is an excellent result which the whole school community can take pride in. From the inspectors’ report, it is clear that the academy is on an upwards trajectory and that improvements to the curriculum are significantly contributing to students’ progress.”

The Ofsted report can be viewed here.