Pupils at Elements Academy have a mixed experience. Recently, the trust reset expectations across the school. Pupils say they have noticed improvements. Pupils now learn in three ‘zones’. This helps the school to build a consistent staff team around each group of pupils. Pupils have a range of special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The primary need for most pupils is social, emotional and mental health (SEMH). Staff manage behaviour incidents in a calm and consistent way. However, parents and pupils continue to raise concerns about behaviour in the school. Pupils say bullying does happen, but they are confident staff will deal with it well. Pupils talk about enjoying specific subjects. They also value positive relationships with key members of staff. However, pupils do not achieve as well as they should. This is partly because the curriculum is not consistently well taught. It is also because pupils’ rates of absence are too high and they miss too much school. Pupils learn how to develop socially, including through dedicated lessons. Here, they gain knowledge about how to stay safe in the wider world. Pupils confidently explain their understanding of online risks and what makes a healthy relationship.