In our first Ofsted inspection since becoming an academy, Starbank School has received an overall rating of ‘good’.
After visiting the academy on 6 and 7 June 2023, the Ofsted inspection team has praised pupils, staff and the whole school community in its report, which has been published this week.
The report marks an important milestone in the academy’s transformational journey since joining Star Academies in October 2020.
Starbank School is an all-through academy for 3 to 16 year olds and is located across three sites in close proximity to each other. The school has been rated ‘good’ in all five areas of Ofsted’s inspection framework: the quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management; and, early years provision.
Pupils and staff have been praised for creating a positive school culture with the report stating that ‘a culture of high expectations permeates throughout the school. Pupils happily rise to this. Leaders, alongside staff, work tenaciously to ensure that pupils are successful.’
Ofsted commended its pupils excellent conduct and behaviour, and the school’s welcoming and caring environment. The report concludes that ‘pupils behave extremely well. In lessons, pupils are attentive, respectful and engage purposefully in tasks that are set for them’. The report also recognises the high-quality pastoral support provided by the school, stating that ‘pupils value the high levels of pastoral care and support they receive’.
Inspectors acknowledged the positive impact of the school’s leadership team, with the report declaring that leaders ‘have brought about consistent strengths across both the primary and secondary phase’. The report also praises the quality of teaching and the school’s ‘ambitious’ curriculum, stating that ‘the curriculum has been well-designed so that pupils learn well across a broad range of subjects’.
Other key findings highlighted in the report include:
- ‘Trust and senior leaders work harmoniously and effectively together. They have brought about consistent strengths across both the primary and secondary phase.’
- ‘Leaders have an accurate view of the school and the phases they lead. They have successfully and rightly focused their efforts on ensuring that pupils study a suitably ambitious curriculum.’
- ‘Leaders have ensured that teachers teach the curriculum in both phases well.’
- ‘Teachers model activities to good effect and provide clear instructions to tasks.’
- ‘Teachers use various methods to check what pupils know and understand…this helps pupils to be secure in what they know and remember.’
- ‘From an early age, pupils are taught to read quickly so that they grow to enjoy different types of books and access more of their learning.’
- ‘Leaders have put in place a carefully planned personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) curriculum.’
Starbank School is led by four Principals: Gaetano Ferrante (secondary), Navdeep Malhi (Hob Moor Road primary), Nadim Riaz (Starbank Road primary) and Hajra Rifat (Bierton Road primary). The Principals at Starbank School said:
“The Ofsted report serves as a remarkable tribute to the dedication of our committed staff and governors, and our exceptional pupils, with the support of their parents and carers. We are delighted that Ofsted has recognised the ambitious aspirations we uphold for our pupils and the entire school community.
“What brings us the greatest joy is seeing our pupils wholeheartedly exemplify our STAR values. In everything they undertake, they display attentiveness, respect and consideration, not only for their peers but also for those within and outside their immediate community.
“Whilst we rightly celebrate and recognise the importance of this milestone, we remain focused, determined and ambitious in our pursuit to achieve an ‘outstanding’ level of education for our young people.”
Starbank School is a secondary school for pupils aged 3-16 years in Birmingham. The school joined Star Academies, one of the UK’s leading multi-academy trusts, in October 2020.
You can read the full Ofsted report here.