Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school This school has improved significantly since it opened as an academy because staff, governors and the multi-academy trust (MAT) have worked together effectively to ensure that pupils are well taught, make good progress and are well cared for.

Leaders are ambitious for the school and are determined to ensure that it provides the best possible education. They lead the school with clear vision and determination. Self-evaluation is accurate.

As a result, improvement plans are effective in driving forward school improvement. Middle leaders show a strong understanding of their areas of responsibility and have contributed well to school improvem...ent. Children get a good start to school life in early years.

Well-planned activities help them develop their skills, and staff create a caring and safe environment in which to learn. Pupils make good progress across the school and leave school well equipped to access their secondary education. Disadvantaged pupils make good progress because they are supported well.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are effectively supported to help them to make good progress in their learning. The curriculum is well planned and provides pupils with a good range of activities, trips and visitors to extend pupils' experiences and personal development. Behaviour in lessons and around school is exceptional.

Pupils really enjoy school, and this is reflected in their excellent attendance and very positive attitudes to learning. The vast majority of parents are of the opinion that their children are happy at school. Parents are unanimous in their view that they are safe and well looked after.

The most able pupils are not always stretched sufficiently to ensure that they achieve highly. Pupils do not have such good opportunities to develop and practise their knowledge and skills in mathematics as they do in English.

Information about this school

Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy is part of a federation with two other local schools, Narborough Primary Academy and Sporle Primary Academy.

The headteacher leads all three schools with the support of the deputy headteacher. The school converted to an academy in March 2016, sponsored by the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust. The MAT's board of trustees has delegated responsibilities to a local governing body, shared between the federation of three schools.

The school has a local governing body, which is responsible to the trust's board of trustees. The school has a Church of England designation. The last section 48 inspection of religious education was in October 2016.

The school is significantly smaller than the average-sized primary school. There are currently three classes in the school. Reception and Year 1, Years 2 and 3, and Years 4, 5 and 6.

The majority of pupils are White British. The proportion of pupils who are known to be eligible for pupil premium is above the national average. The number of pupils who have an education, health and care plan and those that speak English as an additional language is too small to report on their progress without the risk of identifying them.