Lord Scudamore Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils achieve well, making good progress in all key stages. Children currently in Nursery join with levels below those expected.

Pupils in Year 6 attain average standards in English, mathematics and other subjects. The progress of some groups, including disabled pupils and those with special educational needs, is outstanding. Teaching is good and some is outstanding.

Work is pitched at just the right level and lessons are interesting and capture pupils' interest. Very highly developed teaching programmes motivate pupils to do their best. Behaviour is good in lessons because it is well-managed.

Social behaviour around the academ...y is excellent. Pupils feel safe and understand how to keep so in different situations, for example when using the internet. The headteachers and other leaders provide excellent leadership and management and considerable improvements have been made between this year and last year in achievement, teaching, behaviour and the curriculum.

Governors hold the school to account very effectively, challenging the school vigorously. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teachers do not always deploy teaching assistants effectively in lessons, especially when the teacher is talking to the whole class, and this slows the progress pupils make. The marking of pupils' work does not always show them how to improve, slowing their progress.

Information about this school

Lord Scudamore converted to become an academy school in February 2012. When its predecessor school, of the same name, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be good. It is the lead academy in the Herefordshire Marches Federation of Academies which includes four other academies.

Its catchment area is central Hereford with about half of the pupils coming from outside this area. It is a much larger-than-average primary school. The academy has three full-time permanent headteachers who share all aspects of leadership and management and has seven assistant headteachers.

The school's Early Years Foundation Stage comprises Nursery and Reception classes. A below average proportion of pupils are eligible for support through the pupil premium (additional funding from central government for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, children who are looked after by the local authority, or who have a parent in the armed forces). The percentage of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is similar to that found nationally.

The percentage of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported through school action is below average, as is the proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is below average. The academy meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics.