20th October 2023: Pupils and staff from Evolve, part of Consilium Academies, are celebrating the publication of their latest Ofsted report, which took place following a two-day inspection in September.

The report is full of praise, with no recommendations for improvements. Inspectors stated that “the evidence gathered suggests that the inspection grade might be outstanding if a graded inspection were carried out now”.

The Alternative Provision (AP) academy, which caters for pupils who may previously have missed large parts of their education, was described as “life-changing for many of the pupils that attend”. Ofsted witnessed a “happy, content and vibrant school in which pupils thrive.”

Pupils told inspectors “how the school has improved their lives” and that they feel their “opinion is valuable and valued”. As a result their “attitudes are unremittingly positive” in lessons and “relationships between adults and pupils are consistently positive”.

Leaders were praised for “encouraging pupils to believe in themselves” and noted that as a result “pupils progress rapidly once they begin to attend the school”.

Staff were unanimous in their “feelings of positivity” and the inspectors said that their strong and clear routines “creates a rare consistency and togetherness for the benefit of pupils”.

Other highlights include:

• Emotional wellbeing is prioritised: “Pupils are encouraged to understand their emotions and feelings” improving  “their mental health, academic performance and self confidence”.
• High expectations: Pupils aspire to college, university courses and apprenticeships as a result of their “renewed enjoyment of school”.
• Teachers understand the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and curriculum plans are “ambitiously designed to give pupils the knowledge they need for long term success”.
• Outdoor learning provision is a particular strength: activities such as abseiling and kayaking helps pupils to “build strong bonds of trust with each other and the adults that work with them”.
• Strong relationships: Inspectors acknowledged “consistently positive” relationships between adults and pupils, the benefits of which “can be seen in lessons, where pupils show commitment and resilience”.

Robert Bell, Consilium Evolve Headteacher, said:

“Our pupils thrive here and that’s evident to see.I am immensely proud of our dedicated staff, our amazing students and their supportive families: together we make an incredible team focused on positivity. It's heartwarming to have that recognition from Ofsted for the life-changing work that we do.

“Many of our pupils first join us withdrawn, reclusive and with diminished self worth and our specialist team brings out the very best in each and every pupil with a deep understanding of their personal needs. It’s a daily privilege to see students grow in confidence, to flourish and to achieve.”

Tracey Greenough, Interim Chief Executive of Consilium Academies, said:

“This glowing Ofsted report stands as a testament to Evolve’s transformative approach to education. Prioritising emotional well-being, the academy encourages students to understand their emotions, enhancing their mental health, academic performance, and self-confidence.

“Setting a gold standard, the report is brimming with commendations and notably contains no recommendations for improvements. I’d like to say a huge thank you to the dedicated team of professionals that made this possible, to the students for working so hard to reach their full potential and for their families for working with us to achieve great outcomes for their young people.”