Dear Parents/carers,
I am pleased to share the outcomes of our recent Challenge Partners Quality Assurance Review, conducted on March 18th, 2026. This rigorous external evaluation is key to our academy’s ongoing development. I am incredibly proud to announce that the review team has evaluated us as ‘Leading’ across all categories, while specifically designating our Specialist Resource Provision, The Spectrum Centre, as an Area of Excellence.
The report, which is attached for your full review, highlights key areas where our academy is excelling.
Key Strengths and Achievements
The review team evaluated the following areas as Leading:
- Leadership at all levels
- Quality of provision and outcomes
- Quality of provision and outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and/or pupils with additional needs
“A strong culture for learning is evident across the academy. Students demonstrate positive attitudes and engage enthusiastically with their learning across all subjects. This is supported by the academy’s work on self-regulation, which enables students to manage their behaviour and approach to learning with independence. Students’ books across subjects reflect this, showing sustained effort and commitment.”
Excellence in teaching and learning remains our top priority. The external evaluators specifically praised our approach to differentiation, stating that “within lessons, staff demonstrate a strong understanding of individual needs, which is reflected in inclusive classroom practice.”
This is a fantastic testament to the inclusive culture we continue to build together at the academy. The evaluators further recognised that “Leaders oversee targeted interventions to remove barriers to learning, ensuring students make strong social, emotional and academic progress” and that “Leaders work collaboratively to support disadvantaged students.”
This feedback is a credit to the hard work of our entire staff, and the supportive partnership we share with our community in fostering an environment where students are supported to achieve beyond expectations. I am incredibly proud to see our commitment to inclusive excellence reflected in this report.
An Accredited Area of Excellence
I am delighted that our Specialist Resource Provision has reaffirmed its status as an Area of Excellence. This achievement is a direct reflection of our specialist team’s exceptional expertise and their unwavering commitment to the children in our care.
“The centre excels in transitioning students into mainstream education using a ‘school-within-a-school’ model. This excellence is built into the infrastructure rather than relying on specific individuals. Practice is sustained through institutional frameworks, collaborative governance, internal quality assurance and external validation. Professional alignment is maintained through partnerships and continuous benchmarking against NASEN and Chartered College of Teachers research.”
Achieving Beyond Expectation
Whilst we take pride in these results, we view them as a foundation for further growth. Moving forward, we will continue to systematically embed student leadership and ensure our most effective teaching strategies are replicated throughout the academy. This ‘Leading’ review stands as a testament to the dedication of our staff, students, and families.
You can view our full report here
I thank you for your continued support.
Yours faithfully,
Dr F Donkor
Principal
Leigh Academy Longfield
