New Penshaw Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Standards declined in 2017. However, since then, leaders have stabilised the staffing and improved the quality of teaching and learning, which is now good. Pupils' progress and attainment are improving, particularly in mathematics.

Governors hold leaders to account well for their actions and provide a good level of both support and challenge. Leaders work closely with other schools in the trust to share expertise and good practice. This school-to-school support has helped improve the quality of teaching.

Leaders have worked effectively to raise standards in mathematics. Pupils develop strong calculation skills throughout the school and en...joy opportunities to solve problems and give reasons for their answers. Children in the early years make a good start in their learning.

They are well prepared for the challenges of Year 1. The curriculum is designed to develop pupils' knowledge within individual subjects. Leaders build in topics that capture pupils' imagination and encourage them to learn.

Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. They are polite, friendly and well-mannered. Pupils respect and value the views of others.

They take pride in their work and in their school. Pupils in the speech and language resource base follow carefully designed learning sessions and make good progress. Although progress is good overall, the proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics is well below the national average.

Teaching does not always cater to the needs of the pupils. In particular, pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and the most able are sometimes not provided with appropriate work to enable them to make better progress. Attendance is rapidly improving.

Leaders work tirelessly with pupils and their families to reduce the number of pupils who are persistently absent from school. However, this proportion remains above the national average.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school.

There has been a significant number of changes in staffing since the previous inspection. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is well above the national average.

The proportion of pupils with SEND is average. The local authority provides an onsite resource base for children with speech and language difficulties who require intensive direct speech and language therapy and teaching. There are currently 10 pupils accessing this provision.

The school is a member of the Inspire Multi-Academy Trust. The board of trustees has a chief executive headteacher who leads the trust. The trust board is the responsible body.