Ofsted 2013 Report

Tretherras Receives Praise From Ofsted

Newquay Tretherras is delighted with its latest OFSTED Inspection report which has identified many outstanding features of the school. The academy’s programme of abundant extra-curricular opportunities is especially singled out for praise as is the very high numbers of students who participate in them. The report states that:

“Extra-curricular provision and participation are outstanding. Two thirds of students regularly attend after school clubs. There are numerous opportunities for both competitive and non-competitive sport. More than half the students represented the Academy at sport last year. Over 400 students participate on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Many students take part in musical and theatrical events, even including an overseas tour by the Jazz Band.”

The academy’s Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural provision is also described as Outstanding with assemblies “having a strong moral character and contributing greatly to the school’s ethos” and providing students with opportunities to reflect on important spiritual matters. The school’s artwork is commended as enhancing the environment and the students are described as “courteous and respectful to one another, to staff, and visitors.” They are praised for taking on a wide range of responsibilities, charity fundraising and becoming national and European winners in Young Enterprise.

Strong partnership working was identified by the Inspection Team who commended Tretherras’ leadership of the local Sports Network as well as providing a wide range teaching and support to local primary schools. Principal of Newquay Junior Academy, Steve Bywater, said: “Newquay Junior Academy is proud of Tretherras’ achievements and looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship”.

The school is popular and oversubscribed in all year groups. The Report notes that “Parents have a strong belief in the ability of the school to teach and look after their children well.” Teaching and learning is a strength with teachers’ strong subject knowledge and use of humour helping to create lessons which students enjoy. The report states that: “Relationships are good and collaborative work is a strength.” The report picks out fast paced lessons matched to individual needs with teachers, who “know their students as individuals,” using a wide range of strategies to engage learners, and using very effective questioning. 85% of lessons observed were rated good or better with 31% graded outstanding and this figure is rising. The report was particularly complimentary about the use of examples from overseas to widen students’ education and the Inspectors were delighted to hear that the academy organises several expeditions and exchanges abroad.

Tretherras’ Leadership and Governance is seen as a strength with the Headteacher, “Having very high expectations of staff and students, building a leadership team committed to improving quality.” Senior leaders were described as having “a very accurate understanding of the academy’s strengths and weaknesses and clear plans to address areas of concern. They are committed to raising standards and work closely with department leaders to bring this about.” The report cites strong leadership as the main reason that almost all the teaching is good or outstanding and that feedback offered to teachers by the leadership team is of very high quality. Newquay Tretherras has worked hard on this over the last few years and is committed to achieving 100% outstanding ratings in the future. The Governance of the school is praised with, “Taking a keen interest in, and a good understanding of, the way the academy works….and active in seeking ways to solve problems. They work closely with senior leaders and hold them stringently to account.”

The strengths of Newquay Tretherras are the leadership of the school, the teaching, the support given to students who fall behind, the behaviour of the students, the Sixth Form, the robust analysis of student progress data, the broad and balanced curriculum, and the achievement and progress of the students which are always above national averages.

The areas for improvement are to continue to increase the proportion of outstanding teaching, to increase attendance of vulnerable students, and to track those students in the 6th form who fall behind the others.

The academy was inspected in the second full week of term following two radical tough overhauls of the Inspection framework last April and again this September. This has led to many schools in the country deemed to be requiring improvement or inadequate. However Tretherras has bucked this trend and has been found to be good with several outstanding features. The school is again celebrating results well above national averages this year and is pleased that in a tough new regime, that the Inspectors were very complimentary about its provision and achievement.


Sue Martin, Headteacher, said:

“I am so proud that Newquay Tretherras has, once again, been recognised for the excellent quality of education it provides. It was very tough, coming so soon in the academic year, and immediately after a challenging new Framework was published, but our students were wonderful and our staff were magnificent. I am grateful for the support of hundreds of parents who sang our praises and ensured that the Inspectors knew how highly they regarded us. There were no areas of improvement we weren’t already working on and it’s now onwards and upwards to even greater success.”


Sarah Karkeek, Chair of Governors, added:

“I have seen numerous improvements in Tretherras over the three years since our last inspection and consider that we are now an even better school. It’s testament to the hard work of staff and students, supported by loyal parents, that we have achieved so well in a tough new regime.”