Leadenham Church of England Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

Leadenham is a good school. Pupils become responsible, mature young people who enjoy school.

The school is not yet outstanding because aspects of teaching and the curriculum are not promoting outstanding achievement. Pupils make good progress and achieve well throughout the school. By Year 6, attainment in English and mathematics is above average.

Pupils are taught well. Teachers successfully plan and design work that interests pupils and motivates them to work hard. Teachers use questioning effectively to encourage pupils to think deeply and to articulate this thinking.

The process actively promotes good progress. Occasionally, teachers are not sufficiently specific in identifying ex...actly what they want each pupil to gain from the lesson and pupils have less opportunity to work independently. The school is a happy, friendly place where pupils say they feel very safe and secure.

Their behaviour is outstanding – an evaluation reflected in their parents' and carers' views. Of special note is the way that they support each other, in particular the way older pupils care for younger ones. Successful leadership has helped the school make significant improvements since its last inspection, especially in increasing the impact of teaching on pupils' progress.

Performance management and the monitoring of teaching have been used successfully to improve the quality of teaching. The curriculum promotes pupils' achievement and their social, moral and spiritual development, but there are too few planned opportunities to ensure they gain understanding of the cultures of others living in the United Kingdom. Pupils' progress is not accelerated when opportunities are not always identified for them to practise writing and mathematics skills in other subjects.

Information about the school

This is a very much smaller-than-average primary school and serves its local area. Almost all pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is much lower than average.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported by school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is average. Pupils, including those in the Early Year Foundation Stage, are taught in classes of mixed ages. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The school has achieved several awards including National Healthy Schools status, Activemark, the International School award and is an Eco-School. The headteacher, and three members of the teaching staff have been appointed since the previous inspection. A few children attend a pre-school as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage, which is managed by the governing body.