Holbeach Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Since the school became an academy, senior leaders have made many improvements to the quality of education pupils receive. Standards are rising and pupils make good progress throughout the school.

The progress of disadvantaged pupils has improved well this year. Disadvantaged pupils, pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and those at the early stages of learning English make good progress due to the effective support they receive. Children make a good start to their school life in the early years and, by the end of Reception, they are well prepared for Year 1.

The most able pupils make good progress, especially in ...reading. Effective procedures for staff training have resulted in improvements in the quality of teaching and the use of assessment, and these are now good. Leaders have an accurate and clear view of the school and know where to focus improvement activities.

The school is well placed to continue to improve in the future. The great majority of parents regard the school highly. Governance is now very effective.

Governors hold high expectations and play a full part in ensuring that the school is focused on improving pupils' academic and personal development. The strongest aspects of pupils' writing are punctuation, grammar and spelling. Extended writing is a little weaker and, in some classes, pupils do not write as well in other subjects as they do in their English books.

The strongest aspects of mathematics are in number work and calculation. Because the school lacks an agreed approach to teaching pupils to solve problems, their reasoning and investigative skills are less secure. Pupils benefit from an extensive range of out-of-school clubs and a well-judged programme of visits that enhance their understanding, experience and enjoyment.

Rates of attendance are a little below national averages and too many pupils are persistently absent. Good relationships, high expectations and a consistent approach to managing behaviour result in pupils behaving well. Pupils are kept safe and are very well supported and cared for.

Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. Pupils show a good understanding of British values. They are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Pupils concentrate in class and work hard. They are polite, well-mannered and respectful to one another. Playtimes and assemblies are well organised and pupils behave well.

Information about this school

The school meets the requirements on the publication of specified information on its website and complies with DfE guidance on what academies should publish. The school is an average-sized primary school. An average proportion of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Although more pupils than is typical are from families who speak English as an additional language, few pupils are at the early stages of learning English. The proportion of pupils who are supported by the pupil premium is around one third. This is higher than the national average for primary schools.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is above average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. The school converted to become an academy in September 2014 as part of the Lincolnshire Educational Trust.