We have retained our Ofsted ‘good’ rating following a short inspection on 30 November and 1 December 2021. A short inspection is a visit carried out within ‘good’ rated schools to ensure standards have been maintained since the last inspection date.
In the report, Ofsted commented that children ‘are happy at their friendly school,’ where all leaders and staff ‘strive to provide every pupil with a good education,’ with staff, children, and their families saying: “We are a family.”
Children shared with the inspector that the ‘Bracken Lane Behaviours are helping them to be confident,’ and that they ‘care about their friends and want to do their best.’ In their learning, the inspector described them as ‘curious to learn new things,’ ‘keen readers,’ and ‘proud of their speedy arithmetic’.
Staff were credited for regularly checking what pupils remember and understand, which ‘enables teachers to plan next steps in pupils’ learning and identify any extra support which pupils may need.’
Emotional and physical wellbeing was also highlighted as a strength, with children commenting that they ‘feel safe and trust adults to help them sort out any worries they may have.’ Parents also commented on being ‘grateful’ to Bracken Lane ‘for the support the school provided during national lockdowns.’
Dave Cotton, CEO of Diverse Academies Trust said: “We have a wonderful community of children and families in Retford and I am delighted to see our academies go from strength to strength. My thanks go to the staff teams for the amazing work they do day-in, day-out, and particularly for their determination to maintain our high standards during what has been a very challenging time. We know that by working together we can make a difference in our diverse communities and in the lives of those who learn with us and work with us, and it was particularly pleasing to see this acknowledged by Ofsted in their visit. Our staff and children should be very proud of the inspection outcomes.”
