I am delighted to be able to share the outcome of our recent OFSTED visit to Chase Terrace Academy. It was confirmed by the inspection team that our school is ‘a positive and respectful place to learn’, rating Chase Terrace Academy as ‘Good’ across all areas of the inspection framework.
You can read the full report here:
The opening paragraph of the report reads:
‘Pupils at Chase Terrace Academy learn how to respect ‘the CTA way,’ living out the values of community, tenacity and aspiration. The school cares for its pupils. Pupils speak highly of the personal development lessons they have every morning. These help them to develop the skills to be confident and successful as they move towards adulthood. Pupils feel safe. They have confidence in the staff to look after them.’
– OFSTED April 2025.
The inspection team recognised how effectively we all work together as a community, and in collaboration with JTMAT. ‘Together they have changed the culture in the school’. Inspectors describe our school as one that ‘cares for its pupils’, and where ‘pupils feel safe’, having ‘confidence in the staff to look after them’. Changing the culture of a school is not something that happens overnight. We have worked tirelessly with our pupils to instil our values which are threaded through our work right across the school.
Personal Development has been a big focus for us, and the opportunities that we have provided in these lessons since changing the structure and timings of our school day have led to strong improvement. ‘Pupils speak highly of the personal development lessons they have every morning. These help them to develop the skills to be confident and successful as they move towards adulthood’.
We are credited for having high expectations of our pupils, and our ‘carefully designed curriculum’ is ambitious, with pupils supported to meet expectations.
In addition to this, inspectors noted the strong work in reading, supporting SEND pupils, careers advice and guidance, sixth form provision and staff development.
I am incredibly proud of the efforts of our staff, pupils and parents/carers in supporting the improvements that we have made, and this work has clearly paid off. That said, there is always much to do, and we are clear on our commitment to maintain our progress.
Inspectors commented upon attendance being a key area for improvement. As you are aware this is something that we have been working on and an area we need your support in to improve further.
Another area that we have been working on in our staff development programme is to develop more consistency around how learning gaps are addressed, so that pupils can link their learning to previous knowledge and remember the learning for when they need it. Inspectors noted that this is an area for development, and a focus on this will strengthen outcomes for pupils even further.
You will all be aware what a journey our school has been on to achieve this. I am so proud to work with such a dedicated and passionate team of staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure our young people have access to the best education and support in a safe and welcoming environment.
Our parents and carers, wider families of our school have been wonderful too. I would like to thank each of you who took the time on the days of the inspection to send us your words of kindness and support, and to those of you who took the time to convey your positivity and support for our school in the OFTSED Parent View survey. The surveys were looked at carefully by the inspection team and it was noted how ‘together’ our community now is.
Most importantly, our pupils here at Chase Terrace Academy demonstrated how fiercely proud they are of our school, and this has been clear not just during the inspection, but throughout our improvement journey. The pupils right from year 7 to year 13, have continued to shine in all aspects of school life and I extend our thanks to them for their hard work and tenacity.
Mr A Stewart, our Chair of Governors, said “The school’s governors, who provide oversight of the school’s plans and progress, are proud of the significant improvements that have been recognised in this OFSTED inspection. We would like to thank the headteacher and her staff for the sustained hard work that has made this possible and the pupils and parents for their ongoing support on our journey.”
Chase Terrace Academy is a welcoming and respectful community, and I am honoured to be able to call myself the Headteacher. I look forward to the next steps in our journey and hope you will all continue to walk beside us in making this school an even better place for our future generations.
Ms N Mason
Headteacher