Abbot Alphege Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Despite leaders' strong, aspirational vision, some pupils do not receive a good quality of education. Leaders have high expectations of what pupils will achieve.

However, inconsistent assessment practices across the school mean that, at times, important information about what pupils know and understand is not used to plan learning effectively. In addition, some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do not have the support they need to learn successfully alongside their peers.

Pupils at Abbot Alphege Academy are polite and welcoming.

They feel happy and safe at school. Pupils and most parents support the view that the school is nurtu...ring and has a family feel throughout. Staff know pupils well and build secure relationships.

Leaders prioritise pupils' emotional well-being, confidence and resilience so that they are ready to learn. Pupils state that bullying does not happen. They say that adults would help them if they were worried about bullying that involved themselves or a friend.

Staff are working successfully to increase the opportunities pupils have to learn beyond the classroom. Pupils describe how the school has recently set up a school council. Older pupils talk enthusiastically about the mixed-age assemblies they lead each week.

They use these to discuss and increase the awareness of the Christian values that the school holds in high esteem.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The quality of education is not yet good enough. In some subjects, the curriculum is not delivered well enough so that pupils learn as well as they should.

For example, in mathematics and phonics, there is not a consistent approach to establish what pupils already know and understand. Consequently, subsequent learning does not build on pupils' prior knowledge.

Some pupils with SEND do not receive effective support to meet their individual needs.

For example, at times, tasks are not broken down into the small enough steps that some pupils need. Consequently, some pupils struggle to access learning, and this can result in them not engaging during lessons.

Leaders are working to improve the culture of reading.

Teachers read regularly with pupils. Children in Reception experience a wide range of rich texts to support their language and vocabulary development. This learning successfully moves into planned learning activities in the indoor and outdoor environment.

Children are encouraged to build on what they have learned.

Teachers of early reading use a consistent approach to teach phonics in early years and key stage 1. Nonetheless, some pupils in key stage 1 do not achieve as well as they could.

This is because monitoring systems do not check how well teachers assess pupils' learning in some lessons.Although there are weaknesses in the quality of education, leadership at the school is good. This is because leaders, including governors, accurately identify the improvements needed to secure a good quality of education for pupils.

Leaders are working on the right things. They have rightly prioritised the development of a new curriculum. Firm foundations are now in place to secure well-sequenced learning towards ambitious goals.

In the early years, the curriculum is successfully sequenced to develop children's speech, language and communication. Staff know how important it is to identify the needs of children as early as possible. Leaders are improving aspects of the early years environment, such as the outside area.

These improvements are working well to make a positive impact on children's learning at the start of their education.

Staff feel supported and involved in the changes that leaders are putting in place. The local governing body is relatively new.

Despite this, governors understand their responsibilities and show commitment to moving the school forward. In addition, leadership is strengthened further by the work of the trust. Trustees oversee the work of the governors effectively.

The school promotes pupils' personal development well. Staff make sure that pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with SEND, develop their independence and resilience. This has been a particular focus during the pandemic.

Pupils are tolerant and respectful of each other. Staff focus on developing pupils' social skills and on how these impact on maintaining friendships. Leaders are committed to increasing the range of extra-curricular opportunities.

The current offer is attended well, including by disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.

Staff at the school are dedicated to meeting the needs of pupils. Leaders provide training and support for teachers and subject leaders so that they can improve what they do.

Leaders have rightly identified that the focus is now to move towards monitoring and improving the impact of the changes they have made.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders act quickly on concerns that staff bring to their attention.

They keep a careful eye on pupils they know to be vulnerable. Staff have regular training and updates, so they know what to do when a pupil is at risk. Leaders encourage staff to be vigilant, so they are clear about the role they have in keeping pupils safe.

Leaders work well with external agencies to support families when necessary.

Recruitment procedures are thorough. Leaders prioritise ensuring the school site is safe and that pupils are well supervised.

Pupils understand how the curriculum teaches them to keep themselves safe through aspects such as online safety.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Some pupils with SEND are not given the support they need to access the full curriculum. This can mean that they are not able to access learning well enough.

Leaders must ensure that teachers support pupils effectively in order to meet their needs and help them to be successful in their learning. ? Leaders have started to improve the use of assessment. This helps teachers to establish what pupils already know and understand.

However, there remain inconsistencies in some areas, such as phonics and mathematics. As a result, at times, learning is not sequentially building on what pupils know and can do. Leaders need to make sure that learning is based on ongoing assessment and, therefore, helps pupils to learn more.