Brambles Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school's vision of 'learning together; growing together; making a difference' is lived out through every aspect of Brambles Primary Academy. The school sits at the heart of the community.

It provides an excellent standard of education and support to the pupils and families it serves. Relationships are very strong and supportive. Pupils are nurtured with great care and, as a result, are happy to come to school.

There are very high expectations of all pupils in the school, regardless of their background. Pupils are supported very well to meet these high expectations. Many pupils achieve highly and make excellent progress, thriving academically and personally.
...r/>In lessons and around school, a culture of excellence ensures that behaviour is exemplary. The school is an exceptionally calm and purposeful place to learn. Through their commitment to high-quality character education, pupils are also inspired to uphold these same high standards of behaviour in the community.

The school is proud to serve a diverse community. Exceptional pastoral support means families receive a very high level of care that goes beyond the typical role of a school. Staff are incredibly passionate about making a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of pupils and their families.

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

The school has established an exciting and engaging curriculum for all pupils. This curriculum builds on prior knowledge and allows pupils to gain new skills over time. Pupils enjoy and take great pride in their work.

For example, they relish designing t-shirts in art and design and applying mathematics skills to design a car. The curriculum also places a sharp focus on acquiring a rich range of new vocabulary. Leaders continue to refine and adapt the curriculum.

Staff receive ongoing, high-quality training to ensure the curriculum is implemented effectively. This is having a strong impact on what pupils achieve.

Reading is a high priority for the school.

Pupils benefit from daily teaching through the school's well-embedded phonics programme. Staff use consistent strategies to help pupils learn new sounds quickly. Pupils apply these new sounds when reading books that are well matched to their abilities.

Pupils also enjoy the wide range of books on offer in the newly developed library. This diverse selection of texts has been very carefully chosen by leaders.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified and supported exceptionally well.

Through a range of specialist support and high-quality training, staff build strong expertise to provide excellent support for these pupils. This means pupils benefit from bespoke interventions and carefully tailored adaptations to allow them to access the full curriculum.

Children in the early years foundation stage get off to a flying start.

They are happy and enjoy a wide range of activities. Very strong curriculum design and delivery means that the provision children receive is of a very high standard. In their play, children enthusiastically engage in writing lists, building structures, counting games and creating tracks for cars to travel on.

Play is lively and exciting. Children are deeply engaged in these opportunities, which capture children's imagination and interest. Staff know the children really well.

This means that individual needs are known and met effectively, ensuring no time is wasted.

The school has taken effective action to improve the attendance of pupils. A wide range of targeted support is in place to improve low attendance and persistent absence.

Most groups of pupils now attend school regularly. However, a small number of pupils continue to miss school and the exceptional education on offer.

The school's work to promote personal development is exemplary.

This work goes beyond what is expected and is highly inclusive. A very carefully structured curriculum is in place to ensure pupils are provided with a wide range of opportunities and experiences. These include a strong careers programme, engaging debate opportunities and very well-attended holiday clubs.

Pupils speak with enthusiasm about the trips they attend and the important roles they have in school. Pupils have a strong understanding of how to keep themselves safe and are well prepared for life in modern Britain. The school's programme for personal, social and health education equips pupils well with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe, including online.

The school is also very effective in ensuring this work responds to the challenges faced in the local community.

Leaders, at all levels, are tenacious in their ambitions for pupils in the school. They are unwavering in their commitment to improving the outcomes of pupils at Brambles.

Staff value the strong support they receive to manage their workload effectively. They speak with high praise for leaders. The school is also held in exceptionally high regard by families.

They recognise the wide-ranging support the school provides. One parent summarised the impact of this support by saying, 'I would be lost without this school.'

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.