Queen’s Park Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils at this school feel part of a happy, caring community.

They say that everyone is welcome here. Pupils follow the school rules 'be safe, be kind, be ready to learn' throughout the day. They behave well in lessons and at play time.

Bullying is rare. Pupils are confident that teachers will quickly resolve any problems. They feel safe.

Pupils enjoy their lessons. Everyone is keen to do well and 'SHINE' in lessons. This means they are ready to work hard and learn.

From Nursery to Year 6, everyone learns to work together in harmony. Pupils pay attention in class and help each other with their learning. Pupils with special educational needs and/or di...sabilities (SEND) get carefully planned support and help.

Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. They learn about different religions, lifestyles and cultures. Through the school council, pupils raise money for a range of different charities.

Older pupils enjoy the many opportunities to take responsibility, such as the Eco Warriors who take special care of the school environment. They also enjoy looking after younger pupils as play leaders.

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

Since joining Advantage Schools, there is a clear vision for the school.

Leaders have put in place a well-sequenced and thought-out curriculum, which meets the needs of pupils. The detailed plans support teachers in knowing what to teach and how to develop learning over time. This starts in the early years where teachers ensure that pupils have the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in key stage 1.

For example, in Reception pupils learn about the local area and simple maps, ready for Geography in Year 1.

In most subjects, these plans are implemented well. Teachers check understanding and adjust their teaching when needed.

Pupils have regular opportunities to revisit learning. This is helping them to understand and remember more. Consistent approaches to teaching mean that pupils understand how to approach new learning quickly.

New vocabulary is introduced effectively in lessons. This ensures that pupils develop the language that they need to be able to articulate their learning. In a few subjects, the planned curriculum is not yet securely in place.

Leaders' monitoring of these subjects is in the early stages of development.

Pupils with SEND access a broad curriculum. For those pupils with the most complex needs, many receive additional support from staff in the school's specialist provision.

This additional help is supporting more pupils to access their lessons successfully with their classmates.

Children make good progress in learning to read from when they start in the early years. They follow a well-planned and sequenced phonics programme.

Their learning is regularly checked by staff. Reading books match what pupils are learning.Older pupils talk with enthusiasm about a wide range of authors they have heard in story time with their teachers.

They receive regular opportunities to read.

Pupils behave well in lessons. There are strong, consistent routines in place across the school from the early years.

These enable everyone to focus on their learning. Pupils are skilfully helped to manage their feelings when they need it. Everyone moves around the school calmly.

Relationships between adults and pupils are consistently positive and respectful.

Most pupils enjoy and attend school regularly. However, a significant minority do not attend routinely and miss too much learning time.

Leaders work with families and external agencies to try and improve attendance, but the attendance of some pupils remains stubbornly low.

Breakfast club helps some pupils to settle in before lessons begin. Pupils and many parents enjoy starting each day with the 'daily mile'.

A wide range of clubs are available for everyone – cricket is a popular choice. Pupils can develop their talents through a range of activities such as instrumental tuition and opportunities to perform. Leaders provide a broad range of opportunities to enrich learning, such as visits by artists to work with clay and trips to museums.

Teachers care about the well-being of pupils and check this every day. From Reception, pupils learn to understand and describe their feelings. This enables adults to provide timely support where needed.

Pupils are also provided with time to reflect in assemblies and lessons.

Pupils learn to be responsible citizens. In the early years, children learn to collaborate and support each other.

Older pupils understand democracy through the work of the school council. They learn to debate and take part in debating contests with other schools. They take on responsibilities around the school.

Leaders are mindful of staff well-being and workload during this period of change. Staff appreciate this.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders know their families well. They regularly check on vulnerable pupils. Everyone understands their responsibilities.

They are vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their pupils. They are confident to gather and record information about concerns. This enables leaders to identify where they need to take further actions.

These next steps are timely and are recorded in detail. Leaders make changes in school to keep pupils safe. They also work well with external agencies.

Pupils learn about safety as part of the curriculum. They know how to stay safe and the importance of telling a trusted adult if they are concerned.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few subjects, the planned curriculum is not yet securely in place.

In these subjects, staff training and assessment processes are not as well established as they are in other subjects. Leaders' monitoring is less well developed than elsewhere in the school's curriculum. As a result, leaders do not know precisely how well pupils are faring in these few subjects.

Leaders should ensure that planning, training and monitoring help staff deliver all subjects to the same high standards. This should be done in a way which is mindful of teachers' workload. ? Systems to monitor absence are used to support and challenge parents whose children are frequently absent.

However, persistent absence is still too high for some pupils. These pupils miss out on learning. Leaders should use their analysis of absence information to further refine their strategies and use of funding to reduce persistent absence.