New Ford Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

New Ford Academy is a school that staff, pupils and governors are right to be proud of. Pupils achieve exceptionally well in many subjects.

This is because leaders have set an ambitious vision and curriculum for all pupils that staff put into action.

Staff have high expectations for how pupils should behave. Pupils live up to these expectations.

They are consistently respectful, polite and considerate towards everyone in school. They demonstrate a maturity towards each other, often helping each other in a sensitive and caring manner. Pupils show that they are fully committed to learning and want to be in school learning.

They behave exceptionally wel...l during lessons and at playtimes.

Pupils take part in an extensive range of inclusive extra-curricular activities, including computing, first aid and musical drama. A programme of carefully planned visits link to the curriculum, including a trip to Chester as part of a history topic about the Roman empire, and a geography field trip to Wales.

Pupils are enthusiastic to take on jobs that require them to help others. All pupils say that they would recommend the school to others. The vast majority of parents and carers share this view.

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

Governors are ambitious for what all pupils can achieve. They demonstrate a deep commitment to the school community. Governors visit the school regularly and make sure that leaders are held to account fully.

They do this with success. Staff feel well supported, typically describing their workload as being well managed and their well-being as carefully considered.

Leaders have carefully constructed a curriculum that covers the aims of the national curriculum and is ambitious for all pupils.

Leaders have made sure that staff know what needs to be taught. Staff have excellent subject knowledge. They are very skilled at checking how well pupils have learned important concepts, knowledge and vocabulary.

Staff use their knowledge of individual pupils' learning to make sure that each pupil achieves well in every subject. Leaders regularly check how well subjects are taught in a supportive way, making sure that all pupils are progressing through the curriculum as they intend. Pupils achieve well across the curriculum.

Leaders place a high priority on reading, and this begins in Nursery. Leaders have made sure that all staff are experts in teaching reading. Children learn to read with increasing accuracy and fluency.

Highly skilled staff support a few pupils who need to catch up with reading in Year 2 and Year 3. This work is checked rigorously by leaders to make sure that pupils catch up quickly. Staff work with parents to encourage reading with their children at home.

As a result, most pupils read regularly at home. Leaders understand the importance of pupils reading a wide range of books for enjoyment. Pupils make good use of the school's library and lunchtime reading caravan.

They achieve well in reading.

Relationships in the early years are warm and caring. The early years curriculum gives children an excellent start in developing knowledge that will help them in Year 1 and beyond.

Some children begin school already needing to catch up in speaking and listening. Staff identify vocabulary gaps swiftly and make sure that very skilled staff work with children to improve their range of vocabulary. This work has a very positive impact.

Children have excellent learning behaviours; they have high levels of concentration and resilience. During visits to Reception, children were developing a sense of place by creating maps of the local area using real flowers, stones and leaves. Children achieve well in the early years.

Leaders are ambitious for what pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can achieve; there is no limit. Staff identify pupils with SEND in the early years without delay. Teachers provide a range of support to meet pupils' needs.

Staff are highly skilled at adapting the curriculum for pupils with SEND when necessary. Pupils with SEND achieve exceptionally well.

Leaders have designed carefully a programme for personal development that meets the needs of individual pupils.

Staff regularly meet with pupils to reflect and to discuss their personal achievements. They plan further learning opportunities as a result of these discussions.

Pupils have a strong sense of what it takes to be a good citizen.

They enjoy donating to a local foodbank and choose charities to fundraise for. Staff have fostered strong links with a community and school in Kenya. Recently, pupils raised funds for a water tower and have an excellent awareness of their impact in others' lives.

In school, there are many leadership roles that pupils hold in high esteem. These include house captains, play leaders and eco monitors.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff ensure that safeguarding pupils is a high priority. Leaders' recruitment checks on staff are rigorous. Staff are well trained and know what to look for to identify any pupil who may be at risk of harm.

They are exceptionally vigilant and record any concerns. Leaders take prompt action to deal with any concerns that staff raise. They work alongside external agencies and provide a range of early help through the school's family support team.

This has a very positive impact on pupils.

Pupils learn how to stay safe online. They have a range of strategies for staying safe online, including the three C's of contact, conduct and content.