Harris Primary Academy Crystal Palace

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

The academy is well led and managed. The Principal and senior leaders have ensured that it has improved swiftly since it opened. The Harris Federation provides excellent support and challenge to other leaders.

Their uncompromising approach means that weaknesses are tackled very quickly. All leaders, including those in charge of subjects, have a good understanding of the main priorities because they check provision thoroughly. Children get off to a good start in the early years.

They enjoy their work and achieve well. In Key Stages 1 and 2, pupils are also taught well and continue to make good progress. Their achievement is good,... especially in mathematics and reading.

Teaching motivates and inspires pupils. It helps them develop the skills needed to succeed in later life. Disadvantaged pupils and those who are disabled or who have special educational needs make good progress and achieve as well as others.

Pupils' positive attitudes in lessons contribute to their good learning. They feel safe and behave well. They are considerate, polite and well-mannered.

Staff have excellent relationships with each other and their pupils. The pupils reflect this in the way that they support each other and are tolerant and respectful. The academy works well with parents.

Most are extremely supportive of the academy. They are particularly pleased with the care shown for their children. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils' attainment is lower in writing than it is in reading and mathematics.

Teachers do not always give pupils sufficient guidance to help them improve their writing and to correct errors. Pupils do not write at length frequently enough, especially in Key Stage 1. Across the school, the learning of the most-able occasionally slows because work is too easy for them.

Information about this school

The academy is larger than the average-sized primary school. Children in the early years attend full time in one of the two Reception classes or part time in the Nursery. Around a quarter of pupils are white British, with a similar proportion being from Back African families.

Other pupils come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. Nearly a half of pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs is above average.

The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is also above average. This is additional government funding provided to give extra support to those pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and to children who are looked after. The academy meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The governors are managed by the Harris Federation. Harris Primary Academy Crystal Palace converted to become an academy on 1 September 2013. When its predecessor school, Malcolm Primary School, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be inadequate.