Kenningtons Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Every pupil is given the opportunity to excel at Kenningtons Primary Academy. Pupils are happy, safe and benefit from a rich range of opportunities at this school.

They become mature, confident young people.

The school values are at the core of pupils' experiences and inform the school's work. The value to 'have high standards for excellent achievement' is realised through the school's rich, broad and balanced curriculum.

Pupils achieve exceptionally well across all curriculum subjects.

Behaviour is exemplary. Classrooms are calm, orderly and productive.

Pupils demonstrate excellent attitudes to their learning. No time is lost. Around school..., pupils socialise together positively, playing sports and making up their own imaginative games.

Older pupils organise activities for younger pupils and act as excellent role models.

Pupils play an active and meaningful role in school life. Pupils are trained to fulfil their roles, and they do so exceptionally well.

They serve lunch and take care of the animals. Older pupils act as learning coaches and run the school library. Pupils truly contribute to the effective way in which the school operates.

They gain a sense of responsibility and develop as leaders when fulfilling these roles.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has an unwavering commitment to ensure it is the best it can be. The curriculum is highly ambitious.

It sets out the key knowledge and skills pupils learn in each year group across all subjects. This begins in early years and builds over time. Trips and experiences are thoughtfully planned into the curriculum.

These ensure pupils can relate their learning to real-life experiences.

The early years curriculum recognises the key knowledge children need to secure in both the Nursery and Reception classes. Communication and language are at the heart of the curriculum.

Children are introduced to a wide range of exciting books. Adult-led activities are supported by carefully planned opportunities for children to practise and further their learning within the environment. Adults check how well children learn and support those who need help to keep up.

Despite often having low starting points, children in early years make excellent progress and are very well prepared for Year 1.

Trained adults deliver the school's chosen phonics programme effectively. Pupils learn letter sounds quickly.

They read books which match their stage of learning. Pupils who fall behind are supported with urgency to keep up with their peers. As pupils progress through the school, they become confident, fluent and enthusiastic readers.

Pupils talk eagerly about the wide range of authors they enjoy. A love of reading emanates through this school.

Highly skilled staff deliver the curriculum effectively.

Teachers revisit prior learning to help pupils build on prior knowledge when they learn something new. Teachers clearly demonstrate what they expect and then support pupils to achieve these expectations. They carefully check pupils have understood new learning.

Pupils thrive on this clear approach to teaching. They build a depth of knowledge which enables them to talk confidently about their learning.

The needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well considered.

Teachers make careful adaptations to remove any barriers to learning. Many pupils access the same learning as their peers. The school has recognised some pupils with SEND need more bespoke opportunities.

These pupils thrive learning a curriculum which is specifically matched to their needs. Pupils with SEND achieve well.

The school expects pupils to behave.

This is what pupils here do. Adults model positive and kind relationships with pupils. Pupils respond and treat each other with care and respect.

The school is a friendly, supportive and positive environment for pupils to flourish.

The provision for pupils' wider development is exceptional. Pupils know how to keep themselves safe, including online.

They understand the importance of having a healthy mind and a healthy body. Pupils understand differences and know the importance of being tolerant to different points of view. When talking about respecting different cultures, one pupil remarked, 'It can bring harmony to the world.'

This captures the mature and well-rounded citizens pupils at this school become. They are very well prepared for life in modern Britain.

Governors share the same high ambition as school leaders.

They offer both support and challenge to the school. They recognise the school's many strengths but strive to keep improving over time.

Staff are proud to work at this school.

They value the support they receive from school leaders. They know their workload and well-being are considered.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.