Outwood Academy Portland

Outwood Academy Portland is a secondary school with academy status, in Worksop, North Nottinghamshire, on the site of the former Portland School. It has a mixed intake of over 1,200 boys and girls ages 11–16 with a comprehensive admissions policy.[1]

Outwood Academy Portland
Address
Netherton Road

Worksop
,
Nottinghamshire
,
S80 2SF

England
Coordinates53°17′42″N 1°07′00″W
Information
TypeAcademy
Motto"Students First"
Established6 September 2011 (2011-09-06)
Local authorityNottinghamshire
TrustOutwood Grange Academies Trust
Department for Education URN138248 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of Academy CouncilJeanette Hercun
PrincipalGodsway Dzoboku
GenderMixed
Age11 to 16
Enrolment1,269 pupils as of September 2018
Capacity1,500
HousesAfrica, Europe, Asia, America and Oceania
Colour(s)Purple and gold          
PublicationOutlook Magazine
Websiteportland.outwood.com

The school is operated by Outwood Grange Academies Trust, and the current principal is Godsway Dzoboku, taking over from Gavin Swinscoe in January 2020.[1] It publishes a newsletter alongside Outwood Academy Valley, Outlook Magazine, on a termly basis.[2]

History

Prior to its conversion, Portland School was in Special Measures (the lowest category for an Ofsted inspection). Following a massive investment of time, support and finance from the local authority, it had managed to achieve 41% 5A*-C including English and Maths, which was more than 10% below its target. However, this had been a great accomplishment as previously the school had spent several years achieving results that were in the teens. In Sept 2011 Outwood Grange Academies Trust began its journey with Portland School. The school was converted and became part of the Outwood Grange Academies Trust and was renamed Outwood Academy Portland. In January 2012 Dr Philip Smith was appointed Principal. The transformation began immediately and by March 2012 Ofsted stated that the ethos of the school was so different they were going to remove the Special Measures category and grade the school as satisfactory. They commented on the orderly manner in which students behaved, the quality of teaching and learning that was now evident, and the belief students were starting to have in themselves. That year the school exceed its target (of 52%) for the first time and achieved 57% 5A*-C including English and maths. The academy continued to excel in all aspects, with results the following year reaching 75%. Ofsted re-visited the school in March 2014 and graded it as Outstanding in every area, with the 24-month change from Special Measures to Outstanding being recorded as the fastest ever turn-around for a secondary school. The following year results increased again, and Outwood Academy Portland was also awarded the regional winner for its provision for disadvantaged pupils. An award it was nominated for again in 2016 following a further increase in 5 A*-Cs up to 81%. This also resulted in the academy receiving a letter from Nick Gibb (MP) stating that the academy had been identified as being in the top-100 schools in England for: attainment of 5A*-Cs, greatest sustained improvement, and value added from KS2 to KS4.[3][4][5][6][7]

Ofsted judgement

The academy has received a rating of "Outstanding", the highest rating, from Ofsted in its latest inspection in March 2014.[8][9][10] OAP also maintained the Outstanding judgement at a monitoring visit in April 2019

Reporting system

The progress of each pupil is monitored closely through the Praising Stars system of half-termly assessment, monitoring and intervention. As a commitment to parents the academy reports on every child’s progress every six weeks, giving accurate information for all subjects. The academy holds three parents’ evenings per year where all parents/carers have the opportunity to meet all subject teachers to discuss progress.[11]

Behaviour and discipline system

The academy uses a system of escalating "consequences" as a framework for discipline, beginning with C1 and ranging through to C6 (exclusion). This has proven to be highly successful in altering negative behaviour patterns and providing pupils with full responsibility for their actions and any following outcomes. C1 - C3 are warnings and a C4 means a detention from that particular subject. A C5 means that students have to spend a day in consequences or isolation. A C6 means exclusion[12]

Pastoral support

Pupils are members of mixed-age tutor groups known as a vertical mentor groups that meet on a daily basis. Each mentoring group has pupils from all five school years (7 to 11), which leads to the groups evolving over time, as older pupils leave and are replaced by younger pupils entering the school.[13] An advantage of mixed age tutor groups is the increased sense of community, allowing for pupils to share experiences and foster understanding.

Vertical mentor groups are each named after a country, and split into houses named after the continents Africa, Europe, Asia, America and Oceania. Students go to assembly in the vertical mentor groups as each has a different day[13]

Sixth form

Outwood Academy Portland shares a sixth form provision with Outwood Academy Valley. Marketed as Outwood Post 16 Centre,[14] the sixth form was moved to a new building across the road from Outwood Academy Valley in 2008. Although the sixth form centre is operated as a separate institution it is governed by both schools.

gollark: How are concepts different to interfaces?
gollark: It would be neat if it came up with its own self-consistent system of arithmetic in which that worked and all other operations also did, but alas.
gollark: Yes, this is known.
gollark: Forth < osmarkslisp™, yes.
gollark: "Proof machine" really implies it should be proving it for me, though.

References
  1. "Outwood Academy Portland". get-information-schools.service.gov.uk. Department for Education. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  2. "Outlook Magazine". Outwood Academy Portland. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  3. "Editor's Comment: The whole of Worksop should be proud of the achievements of Outwood Academy Portland". www.worksopguardian.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  4. "VIDEO: Outwood Academy Portland in Worksop rated as one of best schools in England". www.worksopguardian.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  5. "Worksop school in line for top national pupils award". www.worksopguardian.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  6. "Academy goes from failing to outstanding in just 2 years - Press releases - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  7. "REVEALED: The best secondary schools in North Notts". www.chad.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  8. "Ofsted - Outwood Academy Portland". www.portland.outwood.com. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  9. "Performance Tables - The Department for Education - Outwood Academy Portland, 138248, S80 2SF". www.education.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  10. Ofsted Communications Team (5 November 2010). "Find an inspection report". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  11. "Praising Stars - Outwood Academy Portland". www.portland.outwood.com. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  12. "Policies - Outwood Academy Portland". www.portland.outwood.com. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  13. "Vertical Mentoring Groups - Outwood Academy Portland". www.portland.outwood.com. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  14. http://www.post16worksop.outwood.com/about-the-post-16-centre
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