Clarendon Academy retains 'Good' Ofsted rating

Inspectors praise Trowbridge school as “welcoming and friendly” following successful Ofsted inspection 

Ofsted Inspectors have commended Clarendon Academy for its “calm and purposeful” atmosphere and its “high quality education” in their recent report of the school.

Clarendon Academy’s inspection took place towards the end of the last academic year, between 27^th and 28^th June. This was the school’s first inspection under the new Ofsted framework.

The report confirms that Clarendon continues to be a ‘Good’ school and that leaders have prioritised the development of the school’s curriculum with “care and precision”, so that pupils build their knowledge over time.

Craig Turze, Headteacher, commented: “Clarendon Academy belongs to all of us and our students, parents, and staff all deserve to take immense pride in the report and all the wonderful things the inspectors have said about our school. Our students are what makes Clarendon so special and we are delighted that the report praises them so highly.”

Inspectors comment in the report that all pupils at Clarendon are able to follow the same high-quality and ambitious curriculum, as leaders “make decisions considering first and foremost the impact upon disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND.”

Staff at the school were found to have strong subject knowledge, to know pupils incredibly well, and to display high expectations for all. Inspectors noted that pupils at the school learn “to treat everyone equally and with respect”. They commented on how welcoming and kind pupils are to new arrivals and that members of the school community display the school values of: Respect, Determination, and Excellence.

Clarendon Academy joined Acorn Education Trust in 2018 and leaders immediately began working on areas of school improvement, with trustees and governors challenging and supporting school leaders with “rigor and insight”.

Over the past five years, Acorn has made significant investment in Clarendon’s infrastructure, staffing and resources, to support the school’s growth. Within the school, Ofsted identified leaders as working together incredibly effectively.

Clarendon Academy is now seeing the benefits of their hard work and dedication, with an increase in the number of students choosing to join the school (which is now over 1,000 students strong). The school is also celebrating its strongest ever A Level and GCSE results.