̨��swag Academy Riverside has been judged as ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted in its first inspection since opening just three years ago.

The inspectors who visited the Middlesbrough secondary school – led by the high-performing ̨��swag Grange Academies Trust – said that “leaders and staff are united in their commitment to the diverse range of pupils who attend their school”.

They added that “staff provide excellent pastoral support” and “support pupils well and encourage them to become polite and resilient young adults”. They praised the positive culture in the school, noting that “relationships between pupils and staff are warm and respectful”.

Ofsted’s report is full of highlights and also includes that:

• “Staff are passionate and knowledgeable about their subjects. They are enthusiastic about engaging pupils in their learning.”

• “Reading is a priority across the school. Staff read with pupils regularly and focus on important vocabulary in lessons. Pupils at an early stage of learning to read receive additional support to help them catch up with their peers.”

• “Leaders ensure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Staff understand how to adapt lessons to meet the needs of these pupils well. Leaders monitor the quality of provision for pupils with SEND and provide ongoing training for staff.”

• “Leaders ensure all pupils have access to a broad, rich set of experiences beyond the classroom. A number of clubs such chess, robotics and several sports are on offer to pupils. Trips to the theatre, residentials to nearby coastal locations and visiting speakers all help to develop pupils cultural understanding.”

• “Speech and language classes help pupils to present themselves confidently and communicate their ideas clearly. This prepares them well for the next stage of their education, employment or training.”

• “Staff working at the school feel well supported by senior leaders. They value the professional development opportunities they are provided.”

• “Leaders have established a highly effective culture of safeguarding at the school.”

Melissa Brant-Smith, the Principal of ̨��swag Academy Riverside in Middlesbrough, said:

“Today’s Ofsted report is so positive and I am enormously proud of what everyone connected with the school has achieved. The report is testament to the superb work of our talented staff, to the support we receive from our parent body and our governing body, and of course to the hard work of our students. It has been a real team effort.

“It’s been a fantastic journey since we opened in 2020. We had 90 students then and in September we will have more than six times as many. We will continue to work hard every day to ensure our school gets even better so that the young people we serve continue the very best education.”

Katy Bradford, the Deputy Chief Executive of ̨��swag Grange Academies Trust, said:

“This is a brilliant report. Melissa and her team have done a great job. They are rightly proud of the ‘Riverside family’ they have cultivated – everyone involved with the school works together for the benefit of Riverside and its students, and the results are clear to see.”