Camulos Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Camulos Academy opened in 2016. It has grown substantially over the last three years. Current leaders, with the excellent support provided by the multi-academy trust (MAT) leaders, have created a school with high standards, where pupils achieve well.

Leaders, both in school and from the MAT, have successfully taken the school through a period of instability in leadership, creating a staff team with a strong sense of teamwork and strong morale. Governors have been effective in supporting the school. They have recruited a skilled leadership team that is moving the school forward.

A comprehensive professional development programme for leader...s and other staff is not in place currently. Many teachers in the school are new to teaching. Where they have been well supported by peers, they have made a strong start to their careers.

Across the school, teachers make consistent use of leaders' chosen mathematics and writing schemes. The structured approach has enabled pupils to make good progress. The wider curriculum is engaging, and pupils achieve well, particularly in science and physical education (PE).

Leaders are currently reviewing the curriculum to enable pupils to build on and apply their knowledge and vocabulary more. Teachers model skills and good examples to pupils throughout the curriculum. However, sometimes not enough demonstration is done and what is shown does not usually encourage stretch and challenge for the most able pupils.

Pupils behave well. They enjoy school, feel safe and are able to seek help with any worries. Pupils read well.

A large majority meet the expected standard in the Year 1 phonics screening check. Even so, there is a lack of emphasis on pupils using their knowledge and skills in phonics to spell and write new words. Pupils' writing is often poorly presented, and this does not help them to spot errors in their own work.

There is not currently enough of an early focus on correct letter formation and on developing good writing styles from the start.

Information about this school

Camulos Academy opened in September 2016. It was built to serve a new housing estate on the outskirts of Colchester.

The school is sponsored by Reach2 MAT. At the time of the inspection, the leadership of the school was being supported by a consultant executive headteacher from the MAT. The school has a local governing body that reports to a regional board, which then in turn reports to the board of trustees.

The school has grown extremely rapidly in its first three years, now with over four times the number of pupils as on opening. On request of the local authority to provide school places, they opened up classes in older year groups. All current key stage 2 pupils have moved from other schools, and these make up nearly half the school roll.

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