A secondary school in Oldham which had previously been told to improve by the education watchdog is celebrating its new 'good' Ofsted grade.

Oasis Academy Oldham on Hollins Road teaches children between 11 and 16 and had been told it 'requires improvement' by Ofsted inspectors in 2022.

However, a team of five inspectors visited the premises in June this year and found that the school is now considered 'good' overall and in every category, from the quality of education and personal development to behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management.

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In their joint report, the Ofsted team said the school has "raised its expectations and ambition" for pupils which the students responded to positively. 

As a result, students "achieve well", are "proud" of their school and "feel safe and happy".

Their behaviour is also "noteworthy", the report continued, as the students know what is expected of them and value the rewards they receive for their efforts.

Many are elected to leadership positions in the school which enables them to contribute "meaningfully" to decision-making.

In one example of this, pupils influenced a policy to be able to wear their sports kit on days when they have physical education. 

On occasions when pupils' behaviour does not meet standards, Ofsted found staff deals with it quickly.

The report highlighted that the school has "considerably increased the ambition in the curriculum" and is aspirational for all students, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

While a growing number of students go on to study the English Baccalaureate suite of subjects, there is also a "strong culture of reading" throughout the school.

It was also noted that the school serves a diverse community, which the students embrace as they learn about a range of cultures and beliefs which are "skillfully interwoven" in the curriculum.

For example, students learn about artists from Pakistan.

Beyond the curriculum, Oasis Academy offers its students a range of opportunities to expand on their interests and talents, such as cooking, writing and sports and exercise clubs like cheerleading and handball.

It also has a "carefully tailored programme" for personal, social and health education which prepares them well for life in modern Britain.

For instance, they learn about personal safety, managing money and the world of work.

The school further provides additional support for pupils with their mental health.

Leaders and staff were also praised in the report for sharing a "clear vision" for the continued development of the school.

The school has built a "stable, well-trained body of staff" who implement the curriculum "increasingly well" which has resulted in strong achievement for pupils.

However, the Ofsted team noted that the many changes to the structure of the curriculum "sometimes hinders how well teachers support pupils" and that learning is "uneven as a result".

In some subjects, teachers do not use assessment strategies which means some pupils' retention of knowledge is "less secure", the report added.

To improve the grade even further, Ofsted advised Oasis Academy to ensure teachers are fully equipped to identify any misconceptions or gaps in students' learning and to make sure the curriculum builds a rich body of subject knowledge.

Reacting to the new 'good' grade, co-head teachers of the school, Gemma Blackwood and Sam Collins said they were "proud" of the successful inspection.

Miss Blackwood said: “We are incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made as an academy community over the years.

"Our dedicated staff and comprehensive support systems have played a crucial role in creating a positive learning environment for all.”

Mr Collins added: “We are grateful to Ofsted for this positive report which accurately reflects what our staff, students and parents know – we are an academy that cares and is dedicated to supporting our children to achieve their very best.

"A special thank you to all of our teachers and support staff who are committed to developing their practice so that our students can make even greater progress.”

Got a story? Email me Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk