Christ Church Cep Academy, Folkestone

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive in the purposeful and caring atmosphere. They are very happy at school. Parents are extremely supportive.

Typical views were summed up by a comment from one parent by saying, 'The staff seem like one happy family. They create a fun, warm, safe, environment for the children to come to and feel happy and secure.'

Pupils enjoy learning.

Staff always support and encourage them. Everyone is included, treated equally and fairly and pupils say, 'that's how it should be'. Leaders' expectations are high and pupils live up to the school motto of 'striving to be the best version of ourselves every day'.

Pupils feel safe. Bullying does not worry p...upils. They know that any issues will be quickly addressed by staff.

Staff know pupils very well. There are positive, trusting relationships. Pupils appreciate what they call, 'a nice environment for learning'.

They say they are lucky to have a swimming pool, a prayer garden and 'a bunch of people to talk to' if they have any worries. Pupils get on well together and value the friendships they make. They behave very well and are polite and respectful.

They demonstrate the school values of friendship, thankfulness, forgiveness and hope.

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

The school's curriculum is carefully considered and sequenced. It is broad and equally ambitious for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) as it is for others.

Staff are quick to identify the needs of pupils with SEND and they are supported well. Pupils' positive attitudes and very good behaviour helps them learn well. The curriculum builds pupils' knowledge securely, particularly in English and mathematics.

In a few subjects, however, activities and work are not always as well matched as they could be to the knowledge and skills that teachers know pupils need to learn.

Staff feel valued and supported by leaders. Leaders and governors are committed to staff's professional development and their well-being.

Staff work well as a dedicated team. Subject leaders are skilled and staff benefit from their expertise. Teachers use their good subject knowledge to explain new content well to pupils.

They engage pupils well in discussions and check their understanding. This information is used effectively to identify any learning gaps.

Leaders' focus on developing pupils' communication and speech and language skills.

In all subjects, from Reception onwards, there is a strong emphasis on enriching pupils' vocabulary. In mathematics, for example, repetition and use of correct language helps children in Reception explore numbers. Older pupils' use of mathematical terminology helps them respond well to teachers' challenging questions.

This helps to deepen pupils' thinking and mathematical understanding.

Leaders have ensured that reading is a priority. Phonics teaching is extremely efficiently organised and taught well.

Children in Reception start to learn phonics straight away. Pupils quickly learn letters and the sounds they make. Leaders and staff assess pupils accurately.

They provide additional sessions for any pupils who struggle, to help them catch up quickly. Pupils read and take books home that match the sounds that they know.

Teachers encourage pupils to develop a love of reading.

Children in Reception enjoy listening to stories and rhymes and singing songs. Teachers use a wide range of texts to help pupils build their knowledge and enjoyment of reading. Pupils are encouraged and challenged to read widely and frequently, at school and at home.

They develop as confident, fluent readers with skills to access the wider curriculum.

Books that teachers share with pupils are carefully chosen. They often promote pupils' awareness and discussion of issues, such as cultural diversity, equality and difference.

Pupils gained enormously from the opportunity to meet and question the author of the book 'The Boy at the Back of the Class'. They discuss issues around refugees, and the importance of friendship and kindness.

Leaders and governors are determined and unwavering in their work to make sure that all pupils are getting the best learning, social and cultural experiences.

Many parents agreed with one who said, 'The school go above and beyond to provide extra-curricular activities and fun events for the children.'

Senior leaders have identified where overall improvements are needed. However, in a very few areas, they have not clearly pinpointed precisely what needs to be done to make these improvements.

For example, the checks on some of the targets for pupils with SEND, who have higher levels of need, and the impact of the curriculum in the early years, lack a sharp focus.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a strong culture of safeguarding at this school.

Pupils' well-being and safety are priorities for everyone. Staff know pupils very well and so are quick to spot any signs that a child may be at risk of harm. Staff are well trained.

Leaders make sure that staff know exactly what to do if they have a concern. Leaders ensure that swift action is taken and pupils get the help they need to stay safe. They seek support from specialist agencies, where appropriate.

Record keeping is thorough. Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe, including when online.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few foundation subjects, activities and work are not always well-matched to the intended curriculum.

As a result, pupils are not building their knowledge as securely as they could. Leaders need to ensure that learning activities are consistently well matched to the intended learning and reflect the school's ambitious curriculum. Leaders should ensure that all teachers know how to translate the curriculum thinking into high-quality learning, so that pupils achieve consistently highly.

Also at this postcode