Churchfield Church of England Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher has high expectations and is committed to the school's continued improvement.

She provides strong and clear leadership for staff and pupils. Since joining the Diocese of St Albans multi-academy trust (DSAMAT) the school has made significant progress. Trust leaders are very effective; they provide high-quality support and challenge.

Leaders and trustees have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. Their improvement plans focus on appropriate priorities and demonstrate their high expectations for the school. Pupils make good progress and their outcomes have improved considerably.

In 2018, att...ainment at both key stages 1 and 2 was above national averages at the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics. The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good. It continues to improve, because leaders provide staff with effective support, training and challenge.

Leaders and trustees ensure that the school's curriculum provides pupils with a wide range of teaching and learning experiences. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is a strength of the school. Pupils are confident, responsible and caring.

They are well looked after and kept safe. Pupils behave well in and out of lessons. They enjoy school and they are appreciative of the time and support that they are given by the adults who work there.

Leadership of the early years is good. This ensures that children get off to a positive start in their education and develop strong attitudes to learning. Some leaders are new to their roles, and their skills are not as well developed as those of their more experienced colleagues.

Teachers do not always challenge the most able pupils sufficiently, particularly in writing. This is notably the case in key stage 1, where teaching is less consistent. Overall levels of pupil absence are too high.

Disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have above average levels of absence and persistent absence.

Information about this school

This is the school's first inspection since it joined the DSAMAT in March 2017. The school receives support and challenge from the trust's CEO and through its eastern regional hub board.

Responsibility for the school's performance lies with the DSAMAT trust board. The trust has longer-term plans to establish local representation at the school through the establishment of an academy council. There are currently six schools within the trust.

The school is a part of the Diocese of St Albans. In its most recent Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (March 2017), it was judged to be good. The school is a larger-than-average-sized primary school.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium or who speak English as an additional language is above the national average. The proportion of pupils who receive SEND support is in line with the national average. The proportion of pupils who have an education, health and care plan is well below the national average.