Cobholm Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Cobholm Primary Academy is a welcoming and friendly environment. Everyone is valued and well cared for.

Pupils speak with great enthusiasm about the staff and about their learning. One pupil said, 'I really love that this school influences us to try new things like reading more books and learning different subjects.'

The school is a calm, orderly, and purposeful learning environment.

Both pupils and parents speak about how much behaviour has improved over the last year or so. Pupils say there are the occasional fallouts over football, but that staff deal with any issues rapidly and effectively. Pupils say there is no bullying.

Pupils enjoy the many ...opportunities the school provides for them to visit interesting places and hear from people with expertise in different subjects. Recently, pupils took part in a video shoot with the Countrywide Trust. All pupils participate in the school's enrichment programme.

This includes different sports activities and curriculum learning like food technology.

Staff have high expectations of what pupils can achieve. Improvements in teaching and pupils' behaviour are helping pupils to achieve well.

Pupils of all ages gain the knowledge they need to be well prepared for the next stage of their learning.

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

The school is well led and managed. There have been several changes in leadership at all levels since the previous inspection.

Despite these changes, school improvement has continued. However, leaders at all levels need further time to embed recent improvements and refine further their leadership skills. Staff say there is no problem with their workload.

They greatly value the training they receive from the school and from the multi-academy trust. Teachers new to teaching say they are well prepared for a career in teaching.

The school's curriculum has been carefully designed to build on pupils' knowledge in each subject.

Curriculum leaders help teachers to teach important knowledge in a logical order. This helps pupils to know more and remember more in each subject.

Pupils build their knowledge and understanding throughout the curriculum from when they start at the school.

They talk enthusiastically about what they have learned over time in different subjects. Pupils achieve well across the curriculum. They gain the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to be successful in the next stage of their education.

There is effective teaching of reading from Reception to Year 6. Most children know the sounds they need to read and write simple words by the end of their Reception Year. Pupils build on this good start to reading in Year 1 and Year 2.

Pupils read books that match the phonics knowledge they are learning in class. As a result, pupils read accurately and with understanding.Pupils develop a love of reading as they go through the school.

They are very impressed with their new library. They like that it is easy to find books written by their favourite authors. When pupils reach Years 5 and 6, they start to set themselves reading challenges, for example to read more pages a week or to read factual books as well as storybooks.

Staff provide effective support so that all pupils can access the full curriculum. The special educational needs coordinator knows the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well. Staff have the training, advice, and resources to adapt the curriculum, so it meets pupils' needs.

Pupils with SEND receive the help they need to thrive and learn well.

The early years curriculum is well planned and put into practice. Children are taught the knowledge and skills they need to be ready for Year 1.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most children in Reception have not had any pre-school experience. Leaders' thoughtful planning and effective teaching help children make strong gains in their learning and personal development.

Pupils have many opportunities to develop as citizens of modern Britain and the wider world.

Leaders' chosen programme to develop pupils' understanding of their rights and responsibilities provides many opportunities to build pupils' character. Pupils better understand why it is important to include everyone. Leaders are building strong links with the Cobholm community.

Pupils are beginning to understand their role in their local community.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders give safeguarding the highest priority.

Staff are well trained and alert to any sign of risk or harm to pupils. They know how and when to report concerns. Leaders work effectively with external agencies to ensure pupils receive expert support when required.

During the pandemic, leaders went the extra mile to ensure the most vulnerable pupils were safe.

The pastoral team work hard to keep pupils in school. They are aware of the potential risks pupils face if frequently absent or excluded from school.

Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe online, in school and in the community.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Throughout the school, some leaders, including senior leaders and subject leaders, are new to their roles. The multi-academy trust needs to ensure that all leaders continue to have further training and time to be able to consolidate and develop their leadership expertise, so they are fully effective in their roles.