A Stalybridge secondary school has been given a boost after receiving a positive report in their latest inspection.    

Copley Academy was inspected in December last year by a team from Ofsted.

The report, published on Wednesday (2 February), describes how leaders have “made great strides” in improving the academy, and Ofsted describe that under principal Ruth Craven’s leadership; 

“A welcome period of stability is ensuring that pupils, parents and staff have greater confidence that the improvements at Copley Academy are sustainable and here to stay”. 

Leaders have raised teachers’ expectations of the standards that pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), can achieve.

It adds: Pupils say they feel ‘happy and proud to attend Copley Academy’ and feel that ‘staff support helps them to feel safe in school’. 

Inspectors praised the “broad and ambitious” range of subjects on offer in the academy’s curriculum, and recognises that leaders and staff have “high aspirations” for all students.  

Principal Ruth Craven couldn’t be happier with the academy’s performance.

She said: “It is fantastic that Ofsted has recognised the progress we have made and it is testament to the hard work of our wonderful staff and students that we have been able to achieve this, especially given all the challenges of the pandemic”.

Copley Academy principal Ruth Craven

In reference to what the academy does well, inspectors awarded a grade of ‘Good’ for the work that staff do to support students’ personal development, particularly in the way that the ‘Great Lives’ curriculum prepares them for life beyond school.  

“We are looking forward to continuing our improvement journey together in the coming months and years, and I really believe that this academy can be judged as at least Good in all areas in our next inspection," said Mrs Craven. 

Particular praise was also given to Great Academies Education Trust, with inspectors highlighting that “over the last two years, leaders, trust representatives and those responsible for governance have made great strides in putting Copley Academy back together”.

Reflecting on the report, Brendan Loughran, CEO at Great Academies Education Trust, said: "The judgements in this report reflect the transformation that has taken place at Copley Academy. There are no surprises in the report and we look forward to supporting Ruth and the staff on the academy’s next stage of improvement." 

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