Norbridge Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

The outstanding leadership of the headteacher and his senior leaders over the last three years has ensured that the quality of teaching has improved. This has rapidly raised achievement. All staff are highly committed to supporting all pupils so they achieve to the very best of their ability.

Pupils show great enthusiasm for learning. They make rapid progress from starting points below those that are typical for children in language and communication when they start in the Early Years. Standards across the school are consistently above average in English and mathematics by the time pupil leave at the end of Year 6.

Stand...ards have risen at Key Stage 1. In reading and mathematics, results matched national averages in 2014, and were above in writing. Pupils who are disadvantaged make outstanding progress and attain above the levels expected for their age.

Disabled pupils, those who have special educational needs and the most-able pupils, all make rapid progress Children make an excellent start In the Early Years Foundation Stage where they thrive and rapidly develop new skills and knowledge. Teaching is good and much is outstanding. Many teachers are inspirational in their work and able to engage and motivate pupils so that they want to learn.

Only very occasionally, in Key Stage 1, is work is not planned well enough to address pupils' different abilities, take account of their progress within lessons and challenge them to do more. The quality of marking is of the highest standard. It is used consistently well by all teachers to show pupils how to improve their work.

Pupils are given every opportunity to respond to teachers' comments and do so very purposefully. In this inclusive and harmonious school, behaviour is outstanding. Pupils have immense pride in their school, in their work and in themselves.

Relationships are excellent and pupils feel very safe and secure. The school offers a vast array of opportunities to help pupils develop their spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding and skills. Pupils are polite and respectful and show care and support for others in the school and in the wider community.

The exciting curriculum motivates pupils to want to learn very effectively. Careful use of focused visits and visitors to the school stimulates pupils' interest and widens their experiences. Pupils have many opportunities to develop their skills in English and mathematics through their work in other subjects.

The governing body is highly effective in the exercise of its duties. Governors strongly support the school. Working closely with the headteacher and staff, they recognise when to challenge the school and are unafraid to take decisive action when needed.

The school is not complacent and is very well placed to continue to thrive and to raise standards further.

Information about this school

Norbridge Academy converted to become an academy school in September 2011. When its predecessor school, Norbridge Primary, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be good.

Norbridge Academy is larger than the average-sized primary school. There are two classes in Key Stage 1 and one class in Key Stage 2. There is separate provision in the Nursery and Reception.

Nursery children attend on a part-time basis and all Reception children attend full-time. Nearly three quarters of pupils are of White British heritage, about the same proportion as nationally. The remainder come from various ethnic minority heritages.

Fewer pupils than average speak English as an additional language. More pupils than is the case nationally join the school at other than at the usual time, often at an early stage of learning English. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is below average, at 6%.

No pupils have an education, health and care plan. Approximately 24% of the pupils are supported by the pupil premium (the additional funding allocated by the government for, in this school, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, and those looked after by the local authority). This is average.

The academy meets the government's current floor standards, which set out the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The academy has many awards including the International School Award and Investors in Pupils status. Since the academy opened, the governors have appointed three new teachers in September 2011, one of whom is the leader for mathematics.

In December 2012 they appointed a new assistant headteacher as leader of the Early Years Foundation Stage. In September 2013 the governors appointed a new teacher who has since been appointed as the leader for English. In September 2014 two newly qualified teachers were appointed.

The headteacher and senior leaders contribute to school improvement work in other schools throughout the local authority. There is a before-school breakfast club and an after-school club. These are managed by the governing body and formed part of the inspection.