Bourton Meadow Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils' achievement is outstanding.

All groups of pupils, including disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs, make exceptional progress from their starting points. Standards in reading, writing and mathematics are well above those found in other schools nationally. Teaching is outstanding because it has promoted outstanding achievement for a number of years, and is continuing to improve.

All teachers teach with great energy and enthusiasm. Mutual respect between teachers and pupils, a clear focus on helping pupils understand what they are supposed to learn and skilful questioning enable pupils to learn rapidly.... The effective use of assessment data by teachers helps them to make sure that lessons are challenging for pupils, and that they adjust their teaching where pupils show they can do more or need extra help.

Most, but not all, pupils are increasingly using the comments that teachers write in their books so that they can make the quality of their work even better. Behaviour is exemplary throughout the school. Pupils have excellent attitudes to their learning and to each other.

They feel completely safe in school and have no concerns about bullying or any disruption to their learning and enjoyment at school. School leaders at all levels, including governors, are very skilful, knowledgeable, determined and ambitious. They have the learning and well-being of pupils at the heart of their work and use the much valued support they provide to other schools as a way to continue to improve their own practice.

Parents, carers and staff recognise the inspirational leadership within the school and have great confidence and pride in the continuing and growing success of the school. The school curriculum is broad and balanced and rich with opportunities that excite and motivate pupils. Staff plan the curriculum together to gather the best ideas, and have a focus on attitudes and skills as well as knowledge.

Spiritual, moral, social and cultural aspects of learning effectively promote the highest levels of pupil achievement and personal development.

Information about this school

Bourton Meadow Academy is much larger than the average-sized primary school. The proportion of girls is average but variable across year groups.

The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives additional income (the pupil premium) is well below average. This funding provides for looked after children, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children of service families. Less than a fifth of the pupils, a lower proportion than that found nationally, are from a range of minority ethnic groups.

The remaining, and largest group of pupils, are from White backgrounds. The proportion of pupils learning English as an additional language is below the national average. The proportion of pupils supported by school action is well below average, and the proportion of pupils at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also well below average.

The school does not send any pupils to be educated off site in other institutions. The governing body manages a breakfast club and after-school club. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

In March 2012, the school converted into an academy school. When last inspected, its predecessor school, Bourton Meadow School, was judged to be outstanding in its overall effectiveness. The academy is a National Support School and works collaboratively with other schools providing training and support.

The headteacher is a National Leader of Education. The governors are involved in advising and supporting governing bodies of other schools. The academy is also an accredited School-Centred Initial Teacher Training Provider (SCITT).

It is registered to provide 62 places. The training is provided and organised by the academy. Nineteen partnership schools work alongside the academy to provide placements.

The SCITT has been inspected separately, and was judged to be outstanding in every area by Ofsted. The academy has recently gained approval to become a Muti-Academy. A bid to open and run a new, one-form entry school in the local town was successful and the new school is due to open in Sept 2014.

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