Christ The King Catholic Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils make good progress in their learning, doing particularly well in mathematics. Teaching is good and sometimes outstanding. Teachers explain things clearly, mark pupils' work carefully and help them to acquire positive attitudes to learning.

Pupils are safe and well cared for and their behaviour is good. They listen attentively in lessons and try their best. Around the school they are sensible and helpful to others.

The headteacher's strong leadership expects the very best of pupils and staff. Other leaders work as a team under her skilful leadership and do their jobs well. As a result, the school has improved since the pre...vious inspection.

The governing body provides good support and is well informed about what goes on in the school. It challenges school leaders because it is keen for all pupils to succeed. Since the last inspection, achievement has improved because leaders, managers and governors have made a concerted and successful push to improve teaching.

There are good methods for checking on the quality of teaching and further training ensures teachers are kept up-to-date. Pupils enjoy sport and music and are proud of their success in Irish dancing. Parents are very satisfied with the school and feel their children are happy and taught well.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not yet outstanding. In a few lessons, the most able pupils are not challenged because the work is too easy. Not all lessons are planned well enough to ensure pupils learn independently and apply their skills.

Too few pupils achieve the higher levels in writing. Despite the school's best efforts, some pupils still do not attend regularly. Exclusions for inappropriate behaviour have fallen since the last inspection, but still exceed national levels.

Information about this school

This is a smaller than average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils leaving or joining the school within any one year is much higher than is typically seen. This movement of pupils in and out of the school applies across all year groups.

Most pupils are from White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is broadly average and the largest of these groups is Traveller with Irish heritage. Since the last inspection, there has been an increase in the proportion of pupils with Polish heritage but the proportion of pupils whose first language is not English is below average.

An above average proportion of pupils are supported at school action because they are disabled or have special educational needs. An above average proportion have a statement of special educational needs or are supported at school action plus. The proportion of pupils supported through the pupil premium is well above average.

The pupil premium is additional funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children from service families and those children who are looked after by the local authority. The school has a federated governing body with shared arrangements with St Mary's Catholic College. The school meets the government's current floor standards which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.