The Skipton Academy gets a 'good' rating from Ofsted

The academy, rated the lowest possible ‘inadequate’ in 2017, has now been given the second highest ‘good’ in all areas, giving it a overall ‘good’ rating - the same as the selective Skipton Girls High School and Ermysted’s Grammar School.

Its principal, Richard McManus, who took over at the school in 2017, said it was a 'momentous' moment for the academy which is also for the first time oversubscribed.

He said: "I’m pleased that Ofsted have recognised the hard work of all our staff, pupils and their families to make the school such a wonderful place to come and learn.

"It is even more pleasing that for the first time in recent memory we are completely full in Year- 7 next year with 167 students joining us in September and others on a waiting list. That is the true evidence that the community know we are a good school and buy into what it is we are working hard to achieve."

In 2017, the school had 374 pupils on its roll. Two years later, it had moved up a grade to 'requiring improvement' and now, the number of pupils has risen to 474 and is 'increasing rapidly'.

Mr McManus said: "This is a momentous day for The Skipton Academy to be recognised for the first time ever by Ofsted as a 'good' school. The pupils and staff are re-writing the history of the school and creating a future which just keeps getting better and better.

"I’m extremely grateful to all the staff, pupils and their families who have supported us on this journey and I can’t wait to continue to make things even better still for the young people we work with.”

Ofsted inspectors spent two days in the Gargrave Road school in January, giving it a 'good' rating in areas of quality of education, leadership and management, and the personal development, behaviour and attitudes of students.

The report following the visit concluded: “The Skipton Academy has improved significantly over the last few years. It is now a good school. Leaders have raised ambitions for what pupils can achieve. Pupils talk about their personal ambitions for further study and work. They know the qualifications they need to achieve them . Pupils, including those with additional needs, are now making strong progress in most subjects.

"Behaviour in lessons, and around the school, is calm. Pupils are keen to do well.When pupils' behaviour falls short of expectations adults remind them to do better and behaviour quickly improves. Bullying is rare . If it does occur, pupils report it and it is dealt with quickly and effectively. Adults routinely check in with pupils involved in bullying to confirm that the issues have been resolved.

"The reputation of the school within the local community has improved significantly.Pupil numbers are increasing rapidly. Many pupils have joined the school mid year during the last few years. These pupils receive very high quality support to help them quickly feel that they belong and are fully part of the school community. The significant increase in pupils attending the school has allowed the range of qualifications and extra curricular opportunities offered to pupils to grow."

The report added: "Pupils are proud to say they attend The Skipton Academy. Parents and carers would overwhelmingly recommend the school to other parents."

Mr McManus said: "The journey that the school has been on over the last few years is truly incredible. We started this journey in a very difficult place with standards not being good enough and the local community choosing to have their children educated elsewhere.

"There were many people who didn’t believe that this day would come but now to be continuing to grow the school and expand all the things we can offer students still further is amazing.

"Having that confirmed by Ofsted will hopefully mean that people will look at The Skipton Academy and recognise how the school has been transformed from those difficult days of Aireville and the original launch of the academy.

"It is absolutely fantastic that The Skipton Academy has now received this external confirmation of its strong, inclusive, comprehensive education offer for all families in Skipton, and that there is a full choice of 'Good schools' in the area for parents to choose from."

He added: "The number of families choosing to send their children here show that the improvements we have made will last and we are continuing to build a legacy for the young people and families in Skipton.

"I’m particularly proud that we have achieved these things as part of, and with the support of Moorlands Learning Trust as a local multi-academy trust. It is great that the partnership has enabled our students to access an academic path to A-levels which has seen many TSA students go on to Russell group Universities and recently Oxford to study. I knew before I took the role of principal that the students who came here had massive potential and it is right that we should celebrate their success."

Helen Williams, chief executive officer of Moorlands Learning Trust said she was delighted with the 'excellent news'.

"The Ofsted report, showing that provision at The Skipton Academy is good in all areas across the school, as well as the fact that the school has filled all places available, and has a waiting list for Year 7 in September 2023, are true markers of the phenomenal work that has been undertaken at the school by all staff and students over the past few years.

"I’m delighted that TSA is now being recognised as the strong school we know it is – not just by Ofsted, but also the wider community - and I want to take the opportunity to congratulate and thank Richard McManus and his whole team at TSA for making this incredible improvement journey possible over the past few years.

"I’d also like to thank colleagues from Ilkley Grammar School and Moorlands Learning Trust for their part in supporting TSA’s success. Everyone’s hard work and commitment has clearly paid off and there is so much for everyone to be proud of as we now embark on our next exciting stage of development at TSA and MLT."

The former Aireville School converted to The Skipton Academy in 2014.