Peak Academy marks milestone Ofsted success

Peak Academy in Dursley is celebrating its best Ofsted report in a decade, securing ‘Good’ judgements in three of Ofsted’s main categories: behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Inspectors described the school as “aspirational” and praised its “unwavering determination” in providing the very best learning and social events to support pupils’ success.

This marks the first time the school has achieved ‘Good’ ratings since 2015, reflecting an impressive turnaround for one of the region’s most vulnerable student communities.

Peak Academy, a specialist school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, is changing lives across the region by helping students re-engage with education and prepare for bright, successful futures.

For many young people who arrive at Peak Academy, mainstream school has not worked out. Some have experienced permanent exclusion or spent long periods out of education altogether.  Peak Academy offers them a fresh start; pupils are welcomed into a safe, nurturing and structured environment where their individual needs are understood and supported from day one.  According to Ofsted inspectors, Peak Academy is a place where “pupils re-engage with their education and contribute to their community.”

Relationships are at the heart of the school’s success. Staff work hard to create a sense of belonging, and pupils “enjoy warm relationships with adults,” helping them feel secure and valued. With strong pastoral care in place, students gain the confidence to overcome barriers and re-engage with learning.

Peak Academy has had a challenging and unsettling journey over the past decade. Prior to joining Reach South in 2022, the school had been part of two other academy trusts, having opened in 2012. In its first Ofsted inspection two years later, Peak Academy was graded ‘Inadequate’.

One year later in 2015, the school was rebrokered to another trust. Whilst the school was initially graded ‘Good’, it subsequently was graded as ‘Inadequate’ in 2021, under the second trust. In August 2022, The Peak joined Reach South Academy Trust.

Under Reach South’s leadership, the school has secured its best Ofsted result in a decade. Ofsted inspectors spent two days in the school on 7 – 8 May, considering all aspects of the school’s operations. The inspection team highlighted a number of key strengths across the school:

• There is no ceiling on aspirations and there are high expectations for behaviour where pupils learn to respect themselves and others.
• Warm relationships and strong pastoral support that help pupils feel safe and develop a sense of belonging, with pupils saying they “trust that the school will listen and act promptly.”
• Priority is given to pupils’ personal development, with the school providing a rich range of enrichment activities, such as theatre trips, working in a music studio, go-carting, archery and cheerleading.  Such opportunities help develop pupils’ interests and talents.
• Pupils are taught the knowledge they need to lead healthy and successful lives, talking with confidence about how to manage their emotions and staying safe online.
• High-quality staff training, coaching and mentoring, with staff saying they feel “confident and effective” with secure subject knowledge and strong pedagogy. Staff speak of significant “camaraderie.”

The report illustrates just how far Peak Academy has come over the last few years under Reach South’s leadership and comes at a time of strengthened links between the trust and Gloucester Council.

Headteacher of Peak Academy, Elisa Entwistle said:

“This Ofsted inspection marks a real milestone for us as a school, and is testament to the tireless work of staff, the resilience of our pupils, and the steadfast support from Reach South. We are determined to continue building on this progress.

“We’re incredibly proud of the journey our students go on. They arrive with challenges, but they leave with qualifications, confidence, and real aspirations for the future. We help them reconnect, grow and thrive.”

Dean Ashton, CEO of Reach South Academy Trust, added:

“Peak Academy is a shining example of what can be achieved through strong leadership, care and belief in every child’s potential. I am so proud of how far the school community has come and am excited for what comes next.

“We continue to build our presence in the region, with Reach South selected by local authorities to set up two new free schools in Gloucester and Wiltshire – we are very proud to be supporting school improvement right across the South West, putting the interests of young people right at the forefront of everything we do.”