'Welcoming' Dudley school where pupils can 'be themselves' celebrates 'good' Ofsted result

The education watchdog visited St James Academy on St James' Road, Dudley, on June 4 and found it had made improvements since its last inspection in 2022.

It is the first time Ofsted has rated the school as "good" in nearly two decades, last receiving the ranking in 2005 when it was known as Castle High School and Visual Arts College.

The school now forms part of Dudley Academies Trust, which it joined in 2017.

Inspectors noted that pupils were "courteous and polite" and were able to "be themselves" in a "safe environment".

Bullying was found to be "rare", with school goers "confident" that staff will resolve their concerns.

In their report, inspectors noted that the school has "high expectations of pupils' behaviour" which is understood by "most".

It was further found that youngsters are taught how to stay safe, learning topics such as consent and knife crime, and are "well prepared for life" after year 11.

Staff were said to "feel proud" to contribute to the school's development and leaders were described as "very knowledgeable".

The school was praised for taking "effective action" to improve the attendance of pupils, however it was noted that some still "do not attend regularly", creating "noticeable gaps" in their learning.

Inspectors further found that the school "does not ensure" the work given to pupils is "well matched to their needs", which can sometimes lead to them becoming distracted.

St James Academy was also told to "review and evaluate" its extra-curricular activities which many pupils "choose not to engage in".

Ofsted recognised the school had "worked hard to improve the quality of teaching" since its inspection two years ago, where it was found to "require improvements".

It said the school had now "reviewed and developed its curriculum" in Key Stage 3 which is now "broad and balanced".

Overall, the school was found to be "good" in each inspection area including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.

Principal Ian Moore said: “I am extremely proud of the whole school community for achieving this fantastic outcome.

"This report reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, pupils, parents, and governors, who have all contributed to the school’s improvement journey.

"We are grateful for the support and challenge from Dudley Academies Trust, which has enabled us to raise standards and expectations across the board.

"We will continue to work together to ensure that St James Academy provides the best possible education for our pupils, significantly improving their life chances.”

Jo Higgins, chief executive officer at Dudley Academies Trust, also expressed pride at the Ofsted result.

Ms Higgins said: "We are thrilled to see St James Academy recognised as a ‘good’ school by Ofsted. St James Academy has embraced the trust’s vision and values and has demonstrated a relentless commitment to providing high-quality education for its pupils.

"We are very proud of the achievements of the staff and pupils at St James Academy, and we look forward to supporting them on the next exciting phase of their journey.”

Lowell Williams, chair of the board of trustees at Dudley Academies Trust, added: "This is a remarkable achievement for St James Academy and a clear indication of the positive impact that being part of Dudley Academies Trust can have on a school.

"I would like to congratulate Ian Moore and his staff, as well as the pupils and parents, for this well-deserved recognition.”