Dove CofE Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a school that requires improvement Following a period of change, leaders are improving the school.

However, teaching is not yet consistently good. Some pupils do not make the progress of which they are capable. Leaders' checks on teaching are at an early stage of development.

Teachers are only just beginning to receive the training and support they need to improve their practice. Teachers do not use information about pupils' learning to match work to their abilities consistently well. Pupils do not receive the feedback and guidance they need to help them to improve their work.

Plans to improve teaching in phonics have not yet had impact. Too f...ew key stage 1 pupils have the phonics skills they need to read well. Teachers' expectations of pupils' writing are not consistently high.

They do not consistently teach pupils to use accurate spelling. Too many pupils do not develop a neat handwriting style. Although pupils study a broad curriculum, teaching does not deepen their knowledge and skills sufficiently in subjects such as history.

Until recently, adults in the early years have not made effective use of assessment information to plan activities that match children's needs. Governors are knowledgeable about the school. However, they do not hold leaders to account robustly enough for pupils' progress.

The school has the following strengths The new headteacher has quickly established an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. The headteacher is developing the skills of middle leaders. Together, they are taking determined action to improve the school.

Leaders have changed the approach to the teaching of mathematics. As a result, current pupils are making good progress in this subject. The school is a welcoming and inclusive community.

Staff know pupils as individuals and take good care of them. Pupils get on well together and show kindness to each other. Pupils' behaviour and personal development are strong.

They have positive attitudes to learning and work hard. Pupils with high-level special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from strong support and make good progress against their individual targets.

Information about this school

Dove CofE First School is considerably smaller than the average-sized primary school.

The school became a voluntary controlled, Church of England first school in September 2016. It has not yet received a section 48 inspection for schools of a religious character. The headteacher was acting headteacher from September 2018 until March 2019.

She became substantive headteacher in March 2019. There are four mixed-age classes. There is one class for children in Reception and pupils in Year 1, one class for pupils in Years 1 and 2, one class for pupils in Years 2 and 3 and one class for pupils in Years 3 and 4.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is in line with the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average. The proportion of pupils with education, health and care plans is also above the national average.

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