Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The executive headteacher has made considerable improvements across the school since the previous inspection. Pupils now make good progress from their different starting points in a range of subjects.

Governors and senior leaders have strengthened the staff team by improving teaching and increasing achievement. Middle leaders have a greater impact on the quality of provision in their areas than at the time of the previous inspection. Pupils enjoy reading, are taught well and reach excellent standards in phonics (letters and the sounds they represent).

An exciting curriculum ignites pupils' interest. They discuss different views and opinio...ns sensibly to develop their spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding. A highly effective pastoral care team ensures that all pupils are supported and nurtured.

The school's provision for personal development and welfare is first-rate. Pupils are well behaved. Their conduct around the school is impeccable and they are respectful towards staff.

Attendance has improved because pupils enjoy school and are enthusiastic learners. The vast majority of parents and carers agree. The most able pupils' achievement has risen and those pupils who have special educational needs or disability progress well.

Currently, children in the early years are making swift improvement in their learning, which is suitably preparing them for their move into Year 1. It is not yet an outstanding school because : At times, pupils do not produce extended pieces of writing in enough depth. Disadvantaged pupils have not made enough progress over time in writing.

Teachers do not apply the school's agreed target-setting procedures consistently, so progress varies. Teachers do not share the good practice seen in pupils' books widely enough across the school. Full report

Information about this school

This is a larger than average-sized primary school.

The proportion of pupils who are eligible for support through the pupil premium is above average. (The pupil premium is additional government funding provided for children looked after by the local authority and those known to be eligible for free school meals.) The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability, including those who have an education, health and care plan, is below average.

The proportion of pupils from a minority ethnic background or who speak English as an additional language is below average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. The school runs a breakfast club and after-school club which are managed by the governing body.

The children in the Nursery attend part time for 15 hours per week on a flexible basis. Some children attend for 2.5 full days, others attend mornings or afternoons only.

Some parents pay for extra provision so that their children attend the Nursery full time. Children in the Reception class attend full time. Armthorpe Shaw Wood Academy converted to become an academy on 1 September 2012.

A new structure for the leadership team was adopted in January 2015 when the current executive headteacher was appointed and two heads of school took up their new roles. A large proportion of staff are new to the school since the previous inspection. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.