Astrea Academy Trust is 鈥渟trong and improving鈥, but suspensions and exclusions remain 鈥渢oo high鈥 and 鈥渢oo many鈥 of its pupils don鈥檛 attend school regularly enough, an Ofsted evaluation has found. The watchdog has completed a summary evaluation of , which is considered a turnaround trust and runs 26 schools in Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield and Cambridgeshire. Batch inspections of nine of its academies saw two improve from 鈥榬equires improvement鈥 to 鈥榞ood鈥, while another two 鈥榞ood鈥 schools maintained their grades. Five schools had their first graded inspections since joining the trust. Three were judged 鈥榞ood鈥, one 鈥榬equires improvement鈥 and another, Astrea Academy Woodfields, was graded 鈥榠nadequate鈥. In , Ofsted said the results of the inspections showed that Astrea was a 鈥渟trong and improving trust鈥. Leaders ‘not satisfied’ with attendance However, the report highlighted issues with behaviour and attendance. Although attendance is 鈥渋mproving, too many pupils do not attend school regularly enough鈥. Leaders are 鈥渘ot satisfied鈥 with attendance and are working 鈥渉ard to improve it鈥, the report found. Leaders know that 鈥渋n a few schools, some pupils do not behave well enough鈥. They are 鈥渨orking at speed to improve pupils鈥 behaviour across the trust鈥. Incidences of suspensions and permanent exclusions are 鈥渟till too high鈥, but are decreasing. A 鈥渧ery small minority鈥 of pupils have received multiple suspensions during the current academic year 鈥渁nd are at risk of permanent exclusion鈥. It is the latest example of Ofsted calling out exclusion rates in turnaround trusts. Outwood Grange was also warned about high suspensions at Outwood Academy Ormesby earlier this year. But Ofsted said about Astrea that staff and pupils 鈥渁ppreciate the recent changes in behaviour policies鈥 and 鈥渧alue the calm classrooms and corridors that they increasingly experience鈥. However a new management information system is not yet 鈥渇ully embedded鈥. This limits trustees鈥 鈥渁bility to support and challenge leaders effectively鈥. Leaders should 鈥渃ontinue to embed this analysis to further strengthen the trust鈥檚 actions to reduce suspensions and permanent exclusions鈥, the report recommended. Leaders and staff ‘united by vision’ Rowena Hackwood, formerly the chief executive of the David Ross Education Trust, took over as Astrea鈥檚 CEO in 2020. Ofsted said she had 鈥渞ecognised the need to move from the previous model of school autonomy to one of collaboration and a rigorous drive towards excellence鈥. Leaders and staff across the trust鈥檚 schools are 鈥渦nited by the vision of addressing disadvantage so that all children 鈥榣earn, thrive and lead successful lives鈥欌. However, the report also warned that 鈥渋n some areas of the primary curriculum, leaders have not mapped out clearly the disciplinary knowledge that pupils need to understand important subject-specific concepts鈥. 鈥淲here this is the case, teachers have a lack of clarity of how to develop this over time. As a result, some pupils鈥 knowledge is more limited.鈥 The report also found that some schools in the trust鈥檚 south Yorkshire hubs don鈥檛 鈥渂enefit鈥 from parent representation at local governance level. Hackwood said many schools joined Astrea in the years leading up to the Covid pandemic 鈥渂ecause they needed more support to become the best schools they can be鈥. 鈥淭here is a rapidly improving picture and this takes time, resource and tenacity. As the evaluation shows, Astrea staff certainly have tenacity. “Whilst we reflect on that, this is also a good time to take stock, to focus on where we still need to improve and to look forward to future success.鈥 ‘Inadequate’ school issued warning notice Astrea Academy Woodfields has since been issued with a termination warning notice by the government, the first stage of intervention that could see it rebrokered to a new sponsor. The school was previously Balby Carr Community Academy, part of the troubled Wakefield City Academies Trust before its collapse. Ofsted鈥檚 inspection rated it 鈥榠nadequate鈥 overall because behaviour and attitudes, a limiting judgment, received the lowest grade. The report warned 鈥渢oo many pupils miss important learning because of low attendance and/or poor behaviour鈥, and noted the number of pupils removed from lessons or suspended was 鈥渢oo high鈥. However, quality of education, personal development and leadership and management were rated 鈥榬equires improvement鈥 and the sixth form was 鈥榞ood鈥. The trust has made written representations to the DfE following the termination warning notice, and regional director Alison Wilson will now decide whether to re-broker the school.