Herons’ Moor Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

This is a good school. The headteacher, ably supported by staff and the governing body, has successfully driven improvement in provision and outcomes for pupils.

Achievement is good. Pupils make good progress from their starting points and, by the end of Year 6, attainment is broadly average. In English, the gap between boys and girls is closing rapidly because the way the 'Creative Curriculum' is being taught motivates and engages boys in both reading and writing.

Significant recent improvement since the last inspection in the Early Years Foundation Stage means that children are now making outstanding progress in Nursery and Reception. The outstanding extent to which pupils adopt healthy lif...estyles is clearly demonstrated in the numbers of pupils attending additional sporting activities and the very healthy choices they make for their lunch. This has been recognised in the Healthy School award.

Pupils have an excellent understanding of how to keep safe in school and in the wider world and this is confirmed by their parents and carers. The school provides outstanding care and support to pupils and their families through a range of initiatives, including 'Family Seal' and 'Better Reading Partners'. Pupils' personal development is significantly enhanced by the outstanding partnerships that have been developed across The Campus.

All pupils, and particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, benefit from the additional facilities available on the site. Although currently broadly average, the school is doing everything it can to promote good attendance. Where lessons are most successful, teachers skilfully plan for pupils of all abilities so that they make good progress from their own starting points.

These lessons have good pace and pupils demonstrate effective teamwork and interpersonal skills in order to learn with, and from, each other. In one Year 6 lesson, pupils worked very successfully as groups, listening to and valuing each other's contributions, to make a news report. Where lessons are less effective, the pace is slower and pupils, particularly the more able, are not challenged enough.

Across the school, teaching assistants are deployed effectively to work with individuals, pairs or groups based on pupils' needs. There are examples of children receiving detailed feedback about their learning with clear steps for further improvement but this is not consistent across all classes. School self-evaluation is accurate and based on detailed analysis of pupils' performance.

There are strengths in monitoring the attainment and progress of individual children, although the school does not always focus sufficiently on the progress of specific groups of pupils. Nevertheless, taking into consideration the significant improvements made in improving pupils' achievement, the quality of provision and leadership and management, and the school's outstanding safeguarding procedures, the school has a good capacity to sustain further improvement.

Information about the school

Herons' Moor is a much larger than average primary school serving its local community.

It shares 'The Campus' with a special school, children's centre, community library and leisure facilities. Most pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is broadly similar to the national average, as is the proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

The proportion of pupils with a statement of special educational needs is below average. Some, but not all, children start in the Nursery as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The school has achieved the Healthy schools Award and the Leading Aspect Award for Personal, Social and Health Education.

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