Outwood Academy Portland

Outwood Academy Portland
Motto "Students First"
Established 6 September 2011
Type Academy
Associate Executive Principal Dr Philip Smith
Executive Principal Sir Michael Wilkins
Chair Jeanette Hercun
Location Netherton Road
Worksop
Nottinghamshire
S80 2SF
England
Coordinates: 53°17′42″N 1°07′00″W / 53.295042°N 1.116765°W / 53.295042; -1.116765
Local authority Nottinghamshire
Students 1000
Gender Coeducational
Ages 11–16
Website Outwood Academy Portland Website

Outwood Academy Portland is an Academy, in Worksop, North Nottinghamshire,[1] on the site of the former Portland School.

History

Prior to its conversion, Portland School was in Special Measures. Following a massive investment of time, support and finance from the Local Authority, it had managed to achieve 41% 5A*-C including English and Maths, which was more than 10% below its target. However, this had been a great accomplishment as previously the school had spent several years achieving results that were in the teens. In Sept 2011 Outwood Grange Academies Trust began its journey with Portland School. The school was converted and became part of the Outwood Grange Academies Trust and was renamed Outwood Academy Portland. In January 2012 Dr Philip Smith was appointed Principal. The transformation began immediately and by March 2012 Ofsted stated that the ethos of the school was so different they were going to remove the Special Measures category, and grade the school as satisfactory. They commented on the orderly manner in which students behaved, the quality of teaching and learning that was now evident, and the belief students were starting to have in themselves. That year the school exceed its target (of 52%) for the first time and achieved 57% 5A*-C including English and maths. The academy continued to excel in all aspects, with results the following year reaching 75%. Ofsted re-visited the school in March 2014 and graded it as Outstanding in every category, with the 24-month change from Special Measures to Outstanding being recorded as the fastest ever turn-around for a secondary school. The following year results increased again, and Outwood Academy Portland was also awarded the regional winner for its provision for disadvantaged pupils. An award it was nominated for again in 2016 following a further increase in 5 A*-Cs up to 81%. This also resulted in the academy receiving a letter from Nick Gibb (MP) stating that the academy had been identified as the top-100 in England for: attainment of 5A*-Cs, greatest sustained improvement, and value added from KS2 to KS4. Furthermore all indications are that the school is going to improve again in 2016, and the predicted Progress8 score is expected to give an average of over +1 for all students across all 8 subjects. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Ofsted

The academy has received a rating of "Outstanding", the highest rating, from Ofsted in its latest inspection in March 2014. [7] [8] [9]

Praising Stars©

The progress of each student is monitored closely throughout their Praising Stars system of half-termly assessment, monitoring and intervention. As a commitment to parents they report on every child’s progress every six weeks, giving accurate information for all subjects. The academy holds three parents’ evenings per year where all parents/carers have the opportunity to meet all subject teachers to discuss progress. [10]

Behaviour and Discipline

The academy uses a system of escalating "consequences" as a framework for discipline, beginning with C1 and ranging through to C6 (exclusion). This has proven to be highly successful in altering negative behaviour patterns and providing students with full responsibility for their actions and any following outcomes. [11]

Vertical Mentor Groups

Tutor groups are mixed-age with students from all 5 year groups being included in each mentoring group. This means that each group evolves every year, as older students leave and are replaced by younger students entering the school. An advantage of mixed age tutor groups is the increased sense of community, allowing for students to share experiences and foster understanding. [12]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.portland.notts.sch.uk/page/default.asp?title=Home&pid=1. Retrieved 27 September 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/editor-s-comment-the-whole-of-worksop-should-be-proud-of-the-achievements-of-outwood-academy-portland-1-6407204#ixzz41fmObVN5
  3. ↑ http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/local/video-outwood-academy-portland-in-worksop-rated-as-one-of-best-schools-in-england-1-6406754#ixzz41fm8iOZG
  4. ↑ http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/local/worksop-school-in-line-for-top-national-pupils-award-1-7724996#ixzz41fmhzXTP
  5. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/academy-goes-from-failing-to-outstanding-in-just-2-years
  6. ↑ http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/revealed-the-best-secondary-schools-in-north-notts-1-7688801
  7. ↑ http://www.portland.outwood.com/ofsted
  8. ↑ http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=138248
  9. ↑ http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/138248
  10. ↑ http://www.portland.outwood.com/praising-stars
  11. ↑ http://www.portland.outwood.com/policies
  12. ↑ http://www.portland.outwood.com/vertical-mentoring-groups
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