Buckingham Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders and staff have worked hard since the last inspection to improve the school.

As a result, the quality of education pupils receive is now good. Leaders are ambitious about what pupils can achieve, and staff have high expectations.

It does not take long for a visitor to the school to experience the warm and caring relationships that exist between teachers and pupils.

Pupils are happy and smiling, and they enjoy coming to school because they enjoy their learning. The school feels calm and orderly and pupils behave well. In lessons, pupils try their hardest.

Pupils told us that they feel safe. Bullying is rare, and pupils know there is an adult th...ey can go to if they are worried about something. Pupils know how to stay safe, including when they use the internet or social media.

Parents and carers are very positive about the school. They appreciate the support that teachers give to their children. Pupils say that there are lots of things to do outside their lessons.

For example, they enjoy joining clubs like football, dodgeball, chess and music. Pupils regularly go on visits to museums and other local places of interest, to bring to life what they are learning in the classroom.

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

Leaders have worked hard and with support from the Enquire Learning Trust, and they have designed a strong and ambitious curriculum.

Teachers have worked together with leaders to plan what pupils need to learn and when. For example, in science, pupils in Year 4 can explain how learning about the human digestive system helps them to learn about the mouth and teeth. The content in each subject is also carefully linked to knowledge from other subjects, what leaders call the '3-D curriculum'.

As a result, pupils are able to learn and remember new things better.

Teachers make sure that pupils regularly revisit what they learned in previous lessons. For example, in mathematics, the 'Do it Now Activity (DNA)' helps pupils to recap what they learned in the last lesson, last week and last term and link it to what they are learning now.

Teachers apply the same principle at the beginning of all other lessons. Some weaker teaching in the past has led to some gaps in pupils' knowledge in key stage 2. Teaching is much stronger now and teachers work hard to fill these gaps.

As a result, pupils' achievement in reading, writing and mathematics is improving every year.

Reading is a high priority in the school. There is a structured approach to reading across the school.

Reading areas can be found everywhere and are welcoming places for pupils to use. Pupils display a clear love for reading. They take every opportunity to immerse themselves in reading their favourite books or use the electronic devices in the school to improve their reading skills.

New resources have been added this year. Pupils read regularly at home and in school. Story time at the end of each day is engaging.

In early years, daily phonics sessions help pupils learn their sounds quickly and combine the teaching of reading with the teaching of spelling. Any pupil who falls behind in their reading gets extra support. Language development and communication is a high priority for the school.

The early years curriculum is planned coherently. As a result, children are well prepared for Year 1.

Subject leaders have sequenced the content in each subject of the curriculum in a logical way.

Visits and trips are linked to the curriculum and are planned carefully. Teachers regularly check what pupils have learned and can remember in all lessons. Assessment is used well, in the core subjects of reading, writing and mathematics to identify any gaps pupils have at the end points of these curriculums.

However, this is not as developed in science and other non-core subjects. As a result, teachers are less clear about what each pupil has learned and can do at the end of each year.

The school supports pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well.

Leaders make sure that all pupils can take part in all the activities on offer. Staff provide extra help to pupils with SEND when they are at risk of falling behind.

Pupils are polite to each other and staff.

They smile and greet visitors. In lessons, pupils concentrate, and their books show that they take pride in their work.

The school is well led and managed.

The principal and her dedicated team of staff are all proud to be part of this calm and inclusive school. Staff value the way leaders consider their workload. Leaders make sure that teachers are well supported.

Governors and trustees use their skills well to support and challenge the leadership of the school.

Pupils have a lot of opportunities to take part in extra-curricular activities. They enjoy the breakfast and after-school clubs, and taking part in sports competitions.

From an early age, pupils are taught how to keep healthy.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The designated safeguarding leaders work closely with the well-being team and make sure that there is a culture of safeguarding in the school.

The business manager ensures that thorough recruitment checks are in place for all staff who work with pupils. Teachers receive regular training in safeguarding, including awareness around the criminal exploitation of children. Leaders ensure that safeguarding records are accurate.

Staff know the potential risks in the area and what to do if they have concerns about the pupils. Pupils know who to go to if they have any concerns. Also, pupils know what to do to stay safe, including online.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

The school curriculum is ambitious and well planned, and content is logically sequenced. Teachers check regularly in lessons what pupils learn and can do. As a result, teachers can quickly identify any gaps in knowledge, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics.

Leaders must now refine assessment systems further so that teachers know exactly what individual pupils know and can do by the end of each curriculum end point, in science and the other non-core subjects. . The school's strong, interconnected curriculum is designed so that key knowledge is revisited regularly in every subject.

As a result, pupils can recall previous learning with confidence, and their achievement in national tests has been improving over time. Leaders must continue their effective work in developing the implementation of the reading, writing and mathematics curriculums. This is needed so that the proportion of pupils who achieve and exceed the expected standards in these subjects at the end of Year 6 increases, and the gap between the school's outcomes and the national averages continues to diminish.