Newcroft Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The school's outstanding improvement since the last inspection is due to the exceptionally skilled headteacher, the very effective senior leadership team and to high-quality teaching. In reading, writing and mathematics, pupils made outstanding progress in 2013-2014 as the school accelerated their learning.

At the end of Year 2 in 2014 attainment was above average. This shows outstanding progress from their starting points when joining the school. Much of the teaching is outstanding in all years and in most subjects.

Teachers plan and teach lessons that enable pupils to learn exceptionally well. Teachers have high expectations of... all pupils. They use a range of different methods, which capture pupils' interests and enthusiasm.

As a result, all pupils make excellent progress and their achievement is outstanding. The senior leadership team check rigorously on the quality of teaching. This means that all teachers know what they do well and what needs improving so that pupils' needs are fully met.

Leaders, governors and staff have secured excellence in nearly every aspect of the school's work since the previous inspection, including teaching and achievement. Pupils' behaviour is excellent. They are polite, caring and courteous, and they show great respect for all members of the school community.

Pupils say they feel very safe and they are very well cared for. The subjects taught and very caring environment promote pupils' excellent spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The outdoor provision for children in Early Years has improved since the previous inspection.

This has enhanced their physical well-being and has helped to consolidate their excellent progress.

Information about this school

Newcroft Primary is smaller than the average-sized primary school. It has two classes in Nursery, Reception and Year 1, one class in Years 2 and 3 and three mixed age classes in Years 4/5.

There is no Year 6. The Early Years children are taught in a Nursery unit and a double Reception class. The vast majority of children are White British, with a very small, but growing number, from minority ethnic backgrounds.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported at school action is average, and the proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium (the additional funding allocated by the government, for example, for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals) is lower than average. In September 2013, the governors appointed a new headteacher.

In September 2014 they appointed a new deputy headteacher, a new leader of the Early Years Foundation Stage and a new special educational needs coordinator. In addition, one new teacher started at the school in September 2014. The school is a member of the Symphony Primary Schools Partnership, which is a group of 13 Leicestershire schools who have jointly agreed their approach to the requirements of the new national curriculum and an associated assessment system.

The school is also a member of the Shepshed Learning Partnership. A residential visit for 29 Year 4/5 pupils took place during the inspection. There is a before school breakfast club, and an after school club that is managed by the governing body, and formed part of the inspection.