York alternative provision school praised for its safeguarding culture, dedicated pastoral care and ambitious curriculum
Inspire Academy, a pioneering alternative provision school in Acomb, York, is celebrating after meeting every independent school standard in its very first inspection by Ofsted.
Inspectors visited the school in July 2026, less than a year after Inspire Academy was registered by the Department for Education. The school, which is part of Excel Learning Trust, provides places for up to 40 young people from across the Trust’s schools and the wider city of York, who need additional support with their behavioural, social, emotional or mental health needs, either on short-term placements or for the remainder of their education.
As a new school, Inspire Academy faced its very first inspection without a long track record, making this impressive result even more remarkable. Inspectors highlighted that:
• Safeguarding standards are met, with an open culture in which concerns are identified and acted on so that pupils are made safer and feel safe.
• The school’s pastoral support stands out as a key strength, featuring powerful mentoring programmes that transform pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.
• The personal development curriculum is well considered and helps pupils understand how to keep safe, both in their community and online.
• The curriculum is academically ambitious and enables pupils to work towards recognised qualifications, including GCSEs, while closing gaps in their earlier learning.
• Staff feel well supported by leaders and benefit from a varied programme of professional training and development.
The inspection confirmed that all independent school standards, spanning the quality of education, staff suitability, and facilities, have been met in full and all Ofsted evaluation areas were graded at the expected standard.
“Every pupil who comes to Inspire Academy arrives with a unique story, and we view every new arrival as an opportunity for a fresh start. This report reflects what our staff do every single day: building trust with young people, understanding what sits behind their behaviour, and giving them a genuine chance to thrive academically and personally. I am incredibly proud of our team and what we have achieved in our first year.”Rickie Wilson, Head of School, Inspire Academy
Inspire Academy was established to provide an alternative to permanent exclusion or repeated suspension for students across the Trust and the wider city of York, many of whom
join with low attendance and a difficult relationship with school. Inspectors noted that the vast majority of students improve their attendance soon after joining, while incidents of suspension drop significantly compared with students’’ previous settings.
“Inspire Academy exists because we believe every child deserves an education that meets them where they are. To see that ambition recognised in full by Ofsted, in the school’s first year, tells you everything about the dedication of Rickie and his team.” Mark Hassack, CEO, Excel Learning Trust
Building on this success, inspectors highlighted two constructive areas for continued development: ensuring even greater consistency in subject teaching and creating further opportunities for student leadership. School leaders enthusiastically welcomed these suggestions as they continue to raise standards even higher.
25 September 2026