Leigh Academy Bearsted

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils love their new and 'kind' school.

Older pupils show a maturity beyond their years as they forge the pathway that others will follow. They have enquiring minds and enjoy learning 'great new things'. Pupils are reflective.

One told the lead inspector that he wanted to improve himself by being 'more principled and caring'. When quizzed, it was clear that he fully understood what this laudable aspiration meant.

Pupils behave well here.

They know what is expected of them. They know the rules and are disappointed when they are broken. They told inspectors that they feel safe, including from bullying.

New pupils say that they feel the school... is welcoming and accepting. Discussions with pupils revealed that they are equally proud of their school and of their work. Classroom visits showed that a strong learning culture has been established over a relatively short period of time.

Children in early years are encouraged to be inquisitive and to see themselves as learners from the start. They love working together to solve problems and were very enthusiastic when recalling making 'moving dragons' linked to their enquiry about Chinese New Year.

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

This is an exceptional school in many ways.

Senior staff lead by example. They have ensured that much ground has been covered to establish an ethos that strives for excellence. Crucially, they recognise that excellent schools need to be built on firm foundations.

The support of the multi-academy trust has been instrumental in the school's success. This comes in many forms and layers. Clarity of purpose and clear strategic direction are provided by those in positions of governance.

This includes from the trust board. Officers from the trust provide expert advice and purposeful challenge to leaders and staff. The result is a school that is making a clear difference to the pupils it serves, no matter what their background or their individual barriers to learning.

The curriculum is bespoke and ambitious. It is closely aligned to the national curriculum and the requirements of the early years foundation stage. Staff deliver high-quality learning through the framework of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

Pupils study a full range of traditional curriculum subjects, delivered through programmes of inquiry linked to key questions.

The school uses a consistent approach to teach pupils to read and become confident mathematicians. Phonics teaching is delivered with high fidelity in all phases of the school.

This means that children get off to a solid start in early years, where the quality of provision is particularly strong. Older pupils enjoy reading and being read to. Younger pupils are equally happy to talk about their love of the classic stories they have shared with each other since joining the school.

Mathematics teaching draws on a commercial scheme of work that teachers know and understand. Other curriculum subjects, such as history and modern foreign languages (in this case, Spanish) are also taught well because staff plan learning that meets the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

A key strength of the school is the ongoing professional development that staff can access.

This is delivered internally by school leaders or through curriculum experts from the multi-academy trust. Additionally, the school also has its own expert teaching staff who head various subjects with increasing success. The school's Nursery and Reception Years are also beacons of excellence because of the energy, dedication and expertise of leaders and staff.

Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds also benefit from a range of assistance facilitated by the school or through the multi-academy trust. This includes a range of specialist assessments, therapies and interventions for pupils who need extra support.

Work to further pupils' personal development is strong, especially when the school's relative infancy is considered.

Pupils learn about peer pressure and understand the benefits and potential pitfalls of using the internet to learn and to play. The inquiry-led approach to learning also develops pupils' independence, resilience and confidence. Pupils rolled their eyes and laughed when they recalled their nervousness when they sang in the local community before Christmas.

They enjoy the after-school clubs that are led by staff. A well-thought-through collection of core texts linked to the curriculum supports pupils' understanding of equalities and the challenges others face in modern Britain and around the world.

The very large majority of those who responded to Ofsted Parent View were positive about the school.

The staff survey was equally positive, including about leaders' support for staff well-being and workload.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders and staff know pupils well.

They have a clear understanding of pupils' varying backgrounds and the additional challenges that some families face. Systems and procedures are in place to identify and support pupils who may be at risk. This includes pupils who do not attend as often as they should.

The school is supported well by governors and officers from the multi-academy trust with oversight of safeguarding. Staff are well informed and benefit from ongoing training and updates. These include for record-keeping and ensuring that everyone is aware of local contextual updates as well as national statutory requirements.

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