As part of our ongoing improvement journey following our recent Ofsted inspection, Blackpool Skills Academy welcomed a Quality Monitoring Officer from Blackpool Council on 30 September 2026.
The visit provided further independent scrutiny of the changes we are making. It included checks on safeguarding and pupil records, attendance, health and welfare information, staff records, premises and fire safety arrangements, alongside classroom observations and direct conversations with young people.
Safeguarding and pupil welfare
Safeguarding formed an important part of the visit. The Quality Monitoring Officer reviewed an individual pupil record and checked how BSA records and responds to information relating to attendance, welfare, incidents, behaviour and the safety of young people.
The review confirmed that relevant safeguarding information, including incidents where a young person goes missing from school, the use of restraint or other measures of control, and exclusions, was being recorded through CPOMS. Health and medical information was maintained through Bromcom, with accidents and serious incidents recorded through CPOMS.
The visit also examined BSA's response to vulnerable pupils with significant attendance difficulties. In the cases sampled, the reviewer found evidence of an attendance plan, regular meetings with parents, home visits to support engagement, weekly SLT consideration of pupil attendance and involvement from the relevant Blackpool commissioner.
SEND and individual needs were considered as part of the file review. For the pupils sampled, where an EHCP was not currently in place, BSA had undertaken its own needs assessment and was progressing an EHCP referral. The reviewer found learning planning, risk assessment and progress information in place and noted clear evidence of progression. Weekly reports were also being used to record both emotional and educational progress.
What our young people said
Importantly, the documentary evidence was supported by what young people themselves told the visitor. Pupils spoken to said that they felt safe at BSA, knew who they could speak to if they were unhappy or had a concern, and felt supported by staff. The reviewer described teacher and pupil relationships as very positive.
What the visitor saw in classrooms
During the visit, young people were described as happy, polite and engaging. They were willing to talk about what they were learning and appeared to enjoy both vocational and academic lessons.
The reviewer observed positive communication between teachers and pupils and respectful relationships within classrooms.
Areas we are continuing to strengthen
The visit also identified areas where our systems need to become more consistent.
In particular, although fire safety checks were taking place, the recording of those checks was spread across different records and was not always sufficiently up to date. The Quality Monitoring Officer recommended bringing this information together into a single, consistently maintained record and strengthening the documentation associated with fire drills.
The review also identified that staff information was held electronically through ATLAS while paper staff files were also being developed. Rather than maintaining incomplete duplicate systems, the recommendation was to ensure that BSA operates a complete and consistent staff record system. Bromcom is being investigated as this single repository.
These actions have been incorporated into our ongoing improvement work.
Continuing external scrutiny and support
The Quality Monitoring Officer concluded that:
“The school is making progress following their recent Ofsted inspection...”
The officer will return after the Christmas break to undertake further audit work and review progress.
This Blackpool Council quality assurance programme forms part of a wider schedule of external support, challenge and scrutiny at Blackpool Skills Academy.
Ongoing external monitoring
In addition to the scheduled quality visits undertaken by Blackpool Council, Lancashire County Council also has a programme of visits to the Academy. These include more focused reviews and deep dives into particular areas of practice and improvement.
Together, these visits provide BSA with regular external challenge and an opportunity to test whether the changes we are making are becoming embedded in day-to-day practice. Findings and actions from these visits are fed back into our improvement planning so that progress can be monitored over time.
Being open about our progress
We recognise that improvement is not simply about introducing new policies and systems. Those systems have to work consistently in practice, be properly recorded and, most importantly, make a difference to the safety, education and wellbeing of our young people.
We will continue to welcome external scrutiny and will publish updates following Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council visits, including the findings from focused reviews and deep dives.
This will allow parents, partner schools and other stakeholders to see the progress we are making, the areas where further work is required and how we are responding.