Littlecoates Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

The school benefits considerably from the exceptionally strong leadership of the new headteacher and her continuous and relentless drive for improvement during a period of significant change. She is well supported by staff and governors. Most pupils achieve well from their below average starting points and reach expected standards in English and mathematics by the end of Year 6.

The concerted effort by all leaders and managers to improve the quality of teaching by providing high quality training coupled with a rigorous cycle of checks on teaching and pupils' progress has been successful. Teaching is now typically good with some outstandi...ng practice. Pupils' attitudes to learning are good.

Pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties are supported very effectively. Consequently, their behaviour improves and as a result they make faster progress. The needs of all the pupils are quickly identified, especially pupils with special educational needs.

They are supported well and make good progress. Governors know the school well. They are aware of its strengths and provide a good balance to support and challenge.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not enough teaching is outstanding because : less effective teachers do not consistently use information on pupils' progress in class to better meet their needs. Marking does not always provide clear guidance on how to improve, particularly outside English and maths lessons. Where next steps for improvement are given, pupils do not always have the opportunity to act upon this guidance.

Pupils are not always given sufficient opportunities to learn independently or work on their English and mathematics targets in other subjects.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported at school action, school action plus or who have a statement of special educational needs is above average.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for children in the care of the local authority, children of service families and pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is well above average. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is well below average as is the proportion who speak English as an additional language. More pupils than usual join the school after the start of Nursery or leave before the end of Year 6.

The school meets the government's current floor standards which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics. The headteacher has been in post for less than two years, the deputy headteacher less than a term and there has been a total turn-over of teaching staff in the past two years. The vast majority of governors are also new to their posts.