Graham James Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils' progress in English and mathematics is improving rapidly. Over time, rates of progress have continued to rise so that currently all pupils in Year 6 are expected to do well in English and mathematics at the end of Key Stage 2.

Standards are improving rapidly in reading because of the way it is taught in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. The way subjects are taught is exciting, well planned and enables all groups of pupils, especially disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs, to make good progress. Assessment of pupils' work is good.

As a result, pupils know how well they are doing and what they need to do to conti...nue to improve. Support staff who work with pupils in need of additional help are making a strong contribution to rising standards. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary because of the active role they play in ensuring that behaviour around the school is exceptional and attitudes to learning in lessons are outstanding.

The headteacher's driving force underpins the school's rapid improvement in the last three years. Working with her deputy, a strong team of teachers and other staff, she has ensured that standards in English and mathematics continue to improve. The governing body holds the school to account for its performance and its management of finances, including additional funding for those pupils known to be eligible for free school meals.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Less able pupils are not doing quite as well as other groups. Teachers are not encouraging pupils to practise their writing skills across a range of subjects.

Information about this school

This is an average-sized primary school.

There is an Early Years Foundation Stage provision in the Reception class. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for additional funding through the pupil premium (additional funding provided by the government to support pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, those in local authority care and the children of service families) is below average. The proportions of pupils supported at school action and school action plus, or who have a statement of special educational needs, are broadly average.

Half of the pupils with special education needs have speech, language and communication needs and three quarters are boys. The proportions of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and with English as an additional language are below average. The school has been awarded the National Healthy School Status and the International Schools award.

The school works in close collaboration in a 'cluster' arrangement with one primary school, one junior school, one infant school and a secondary academy within its community. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for attainment and progress. The school does not have alternative provision for its pupils.