Holden Lane Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Achievement is good. The progress pupils make from their starting points is good. Good teaching promotes good learning in a range of subjects across the school, and pupils apply their skills in reading, writing and mathematics very well in other subjects.

Disabled pupils, those with special educational needs and those supported by the pupil premium are very well supported. This ensures that these pupils make good progress. Behaviour is good as pupils' attitudes to learning are developing well.

The pupils are polite, well-mannered and care for each other. They are very proud of their school. The nurture group contributes towards ...the good behaviour.

The pupils say they feel very safe at school and they are respectful of other cultures and beliefs. The headteacher has been very effective in promoting pupils' progress in reading, writing and mathematics. The pupils' reading is a particular strength of the school.

Senior leaders and governors have worked hard to secure improvement across the school in teaching. They hold teachers to account for the progress made by their pupils and are constantly trying to raise attainment and to ensure progress for every pupil. The curriculum promotes spiritual, moral, social and cultural aspects of the learning and this results in good achievement and behaviour across the school.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : In some lessons pupils' progress slows because activities do not challenge them enough to think for themselves, and in others support is not focused well enough on how well pupils are learning. The leadership and management, including the governors do not measure the impact of initiatives with enough rigour to judge whether they have brought about improvement.

Information about this school

Holden Lane is a smaller than average-sized primary school situated in the Sneyd Green district of Stoke on Trent.

The percentage of pupils for whom English is an additional language is above the national average and at least half of these are at an early stage of learning English when they join. The proportion of pupils supported through school action is in line with the national average and those supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above the national average. There is a well-above average proportion of pupils known to be eligible for pupil premium.

(This is additional funding for those who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children from service families and those children that are looked after.) The proportion of pupils who join and/or leave the school at other than normal times is above the national average. The school meets the current government floor targets that set minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The Chair and the vice-chair of the governing body are new to the role. There has been some instability with staffing this year. The school provides a before-school breakfast club.