Devonshire Infant Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils make very rapid progress so that by the time that they leave the school they reach average standards in reading, writing and mathematics. All pupils, including those eligible for the pupil premium and disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs, have the skills they need to succeed in junior school.

Teaching is outstanding and together with the rich curriculum promotes pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development extremely well. Personal development is particularly strong. Every opportunity is taken to develop pupils' speaking, independence, curiosity and reflection about right and wrong.

Beha...viour for learning is outstanding and pupils feel safe. They are keen to learn and levels of engagement with their work are high. The headteacher is determined and sharply focused on raising standards.

She has high expectations of all staff and pupils. She is well supported by the senior and subject leaders who are passionate about their areas of responsibility. Together they have improved teaching and raised achievement.

The governing body has members from a range of ethnic backgrounds and quite rightly speaks very proudly of its links with the local community. It places great importance on the welfare of the pupils and their parents.

Information about this school

Devonshire Infant School is much larger than the average-sized infant school.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium (government funding for pupils who are eligible for free school meals, pupils under the care of the local authority and those with parents in the armed services) is above average. In this school there is a high number of pupils eligible for free school meals. A large proportion of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds with Indian and Pakistani pupils forming the largest groups.

Many from these groups arrive at the school speaking little or no English. The proportion of pupils with a statement of special educational needs is below average. The proportion of pupils supported through school action and at school action plus is high.

The executive headteacher has run both the infant school and the neighbouring junior school since 2010. Both schools are in a federation and share the same governing body. The governing body run a breakfast- and after-school club.

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