Parkside Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Parkside Primary Academy continues to be a good school.

The headteacher of this school is Rachel Ward.

This school is part of Pioneer Academies Community Trust, which means other people in the trust also have responsibility for running the school. The trust is run by the chief executive officer (CEO), Harry Wood, and overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by James Kilner.

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive at Parkside Primary Academy.

It is a friendly and inclusive school. Staff know pupils and their families well. They look after pupils and make sure that they are safe.

The school has high expectations for what pupils learn and experi...ence. These are realised. Pupils achieve well.

These high expectations extend to pupils' behaviour and conduct. During lessons and social times, pupils behave well. Bullying is rare in the school.

If it happens, it is successfully addressed by adults.

Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe online and offline. Pupils are clear about the risks they might face and how to protect themselves.

This includes areas such as road safety and fire safety.

School trips are often linked to the curriculum. These support pupils' development.

Some pupils also attend a residential trip. Here they experience outdoor activities such as abseiling and climbing. This effectively develops their teamwork and resilience.

As a result, pupils learn to tackle challenges and conquer their fears.

Many pupils benefit from the range of clubs on offer. These include sports clubs and choir.

These are well delivered by school staff and external experts. This means that pupils successfully develop their talents and interests.

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

Reading is a strength in the school.

Leaders ensure that teachers access frequent training. This helps teachers develop strong subject knowledge. This means that they teach reading with precision and consistency.

Pupils read books that are well matched to their phonics knowledge. This allows pupils to practice and helps them to learn to read fluently. The school regularly checks the impact of teaching on pupils' learning.

If pupils fall behind, they are quickly identified and access additional reading sessions. These are effective in supporting pupils to catch up.

Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum from the early years to Year 6.

This is particularly effective in mathematics. Staff explain concepts clearly, which supports pupils' understanding. Teachers regularly revisit what pupils have learned in the past to check that they have remembered it.

Teachers use this information well to ensure that lessons address what pupils need to learn next. Staff ensure that lessons are engaging. They design activities that the pupils enjoy.

These approaches to teaching are consistent in each year group. As a result, over time pupils develop a determination and interest in learning. This leads to high levels of achievement.

Across the curriculum, leaders have identified the important vocabulary that they want pupils to learn. Pupils use this well to clearly explain their understanding. However, in some subjects, such as history, leaders have not identified the precise information that they want pupils to learn and develop.

Therefore, it is sometimes not clear how pupils' knowledge should build on what they already know. This limits the depth of knowledge that pupils acquire in some foundation subjects.

Leaders quickly and accurately identify any pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Teachers adapt teaching materials so that pupils can learn the same knowledge as their peers. When needed, leaders engage with external agencies, such as speech and language therapists. These actions ensure that pupils with SEND access the provision they need to achieve well.

The curriculum in early years is effective and supports children's development. Adults interact with children and extend their learning through skilful questioning. Occasionally, some of the activities that children access are not as well designed as they could be.

As a result, sometimes, children in the early years do not learn as much as they could.

Pupils learn about healthy and unhealthy relationships. This empowers pupils.

For example, they have a clear understanding about what to do if they experience peer pressure. Pupils also learn about tolerance and accepting differences. Pupils have a strong awareness of respecting individual choice.

Pupils access a curriculum that teaches them about different religions and faiths. However, some pupils do not remember what they have been taught. As a result, some pupils have limited knowledge, which can include errors and misconceptions about different faiths.

Leaders consider staff well-being and workload. Staff acknowledge that this is supportive. For example, leaders have ensured that curriculum monitoring activities are not onerous.

Leaders identify where the curriculum is effective and where they can make changes to improve learning.

Governors and trust leaders are actively involved in the school. They have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and areas that require further development.

There are effective systems and procedures in place that support reflection, collaboration and school improvement.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, such as history, the school has not identified the specific knowledge that pupils should learn in each year group.

This means that pupils do not build on their prior knowledge as well as they could. The school should review the curriculum in these subjects and identify precisely what knowledge should be taught and when. n Some of the activities in the early years are not closely aligned to the children's learning needs.

This means that at times children are not learning as much as they could. The school should ensure that activities match what the children need to learn next so that they can learn more. n Some pupils do not remember what they have learned about different faiths.

As a result, they are not as well prepared for life in modern Britain as they could be. The school should consider how it helps pupils to remember the religious education curriculum so pupils they have a clear and accurate understanding.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good.

This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the second ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in December 2014.

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