Staff and pupils at Nottingham Girls’ Academy in Aspley are celebrating after its latest Ofsted inspection found the Academy is Outstanding in all judgement areas.

The report recognises the Academy’s “diverse community” and says it “provides an exceptional and broad education where all pupils flourish”.

There are numerous mentions of Nottingham Girls’ Academy’s high expectations and ambitious approach to pupils’ education. The Academy, supported by Greenwood Academies Trust, is said to have “firmly established a culture of the very highest expectations” for what all pupils can achieve.

The report praises the curriculum which is described as “rich and highly ambitious” and claims that “pupils achieve exceptionally well”. The curriculum is described as “very well planned to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND and those who speak English as an additional language”.

It goes further to say pupils with special needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive “excellent support” and that “pupils with more complex needs benefit from ambitious personalised curriculum planning”.

The Ofsted inspector compliments the Academy for its emphasis on diversity and equality and states that staff have “thought carefully about the wider knowledge that pupils should learn” and that these themes are “purposefully woven in the subject curriculums”.

The Academy is said to support pupils’ wider personal development “remarkably well”. The report gives the example of how pupils “maturely and enthusiastically discuss issues such as race, religion and gender equality”. Some pupils have even formed an ‘equalities group’ that actively campaigns for social justice including lobbying local politicians.

The Sixth Form at Nottingham Girls’ Academy also received praise including:

• “Students in the sixth form benefit from a curriculum designed to precisely meet their individual needs. Many go on to aspirational destinations.”
• “Staff know the students very well and routinely provide personalised learning activities.”
• “Lessons are challenging but staff make sure that students have the knowledge and vocabulary needed to rise to the challenge.”
• “They encourage students to think deeply and stretch their understanding through clever questioning.”

• “Students in the sixth form are very well supported to find out about universities and apprenticeships that interest them.

Nottingham Girls' Academy is holding a Sixth Form Open Evening on Monday 22^nd January. Contact admin@nottinghamgirlsacademy.org for more information.

David Tungate, Principal at Nottingham Girls’ Academy, said:

“We are obviously delighted with this report which captures just some of the amazing things that take place at Nottingham Girls’ Academy. Our pupils inspire us every day with their ambitions and brilliant minds. Thank you to all my colleagues at the Academy and Greenwood Academies Trust for their hard work and passion to deliver exceptional education and experiences so that all pupils can flourish.”

Wayne Norrie, CEO at Greenwood Academies Trust, added:

“This is an exceptional report for an exceptional school. Well done to Dave Tungate and colleagues at Nottingham Girls’ Academy for their unwavering commitment in ensuring all pupils thrive. As the report highlights, the school serves a diverse community in and around Aspley with nearly 50% of pupils eligible to receive Free School Meals. There is no barrier to success under Dave’s leadership and I’m incredibly proud of what pupils achieve both academically and personally.”