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Radford Primary School Academy continues to be a good school.
What is it like to attend this school?
Radford Academy is a special place where everyone gets a smile and a warm welcome. Pupils value each other. They embrace the principal of 'show respect for everyone and everything'.
They are curious. They love learning about and celebrating each other's cultures.
Pupils know that staff care about them.
They feel safe in school. They know that the adults will help them when they are worried. Staff expect them to behave well, and they do.
Pupils do not worry about bullying. It is rare and the adults always help them to sort it out.
The curriculum is... ambitious for every child.
Older pupils said they know their teachers prepare them well for the next stage in education. Pupils know how important reading is. They love their new library and their teachers' 'story voices'.
Pupils who speak English as an additional language get the high-quality support they need.
Radford Academy pupils are active citizens of their community. They lead change in their school and their city.
Through their projects and campaigns, they learn about how to 'give back' and have a positive impact on people and society. They gain confidence that they have much to offer. They learn that they are important.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Leaders and staff are highly ambitious for all pupils. They take their responsibility to the pupils and the community very seriously. This is seen in their careful work to develop a knowledge-rich curriculum that promotes character development and raises aspiration.
Leaders have skilfully brought together the curriculum for pupils' academic learning and personal development. Leaders adapt the curriculum appropriately for the small number of pupils with complex learning needs to ensure that every pupil benefits.
Subject leaders have set ambitious learning goals.
They take account of pupils' starting points and learning needs. They ensure that pupils can build knowledge step by step. Teachers make effective checks on pupils' learning.
They take prompt action to address any gaps in pupils' knowledge. Teachers make sure that pupils revisit previous learning. For example, in mathematics, leaders ensure that pupils have lots of opportunities to practise what they have learned before.
This means pupils apply their mathematical knowledge with increasing accuracy, fluency and confidence. Teachers present information clearly. However, sometimes in history, they set tasks that are not sharply focused on securing the important subject knowledge and concepts that pupils should learn.
Leaders ensure that staff use carefully planned strategies to develop pupils' vocabulary and language. All pupils benefit from this, including pupils who speak English as an additional language.
Leaders are determined that all pupils learn to read well.
Pupils learn phonics from the start of Reception. Staff receive regular, high-quality training to teach the phonics programme. They take a consistent approach to teaching phonics.
They make effective use of assessment to ensure that pupils practise reading from books that are matched to the sounds pupils know. Staff provide swift support for pupils who need help to keep pace with the phonics programme. Leaders have selected challenging and varied texts to enhance the curriculum.
Children in the early years have warm relationships with staff who know them well. The curriculum is well matched to pupils' needs. Staff provide skilled support for pupils to develop their language and communication skills.
Children are well prepared for the next stage of learning.
Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities benefit from high-quality provision. Leaders set clear targets for pupils' progress.
They give good advice to teachers about how best to support individual pupils. They work well with other agencies to make sure that pupils' needs are met.
Pupils behave well.
Staff teach pupils how to listen respectfully. Pupils like that other pupils 'use their manners'. When pupils do not meet expectations, staff support them to reflect and improve their behaviour.
Personal development is a strength of this school. Pupils get a rich set of relevant experiences in the curriculum to enrich pupils' learning and broaden their horizons. Importantly, they can say clearly how these experiences deepen their learning and enhance their personal development.
For example, pupils described what they learned about history and empathy during their visit to the National Holocaust Centre and Museum. Pupils learn to play a musical instrument. They learn how to stay physically and mentally healthy.
They learn about equality, diversity, rights and responsibilities.Trust leaders and governors have in-depth knowledge of the school. They support the school well.
Staff appreciate leaders' consideration of their well-being and workload. They are proud to work here. They said it is like a family.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Leaders have expert safeguarding knowledge. They ensure that staff receive high-quality training.
Leaders and staff engage proactively with pupils, families and external agencies. They ensure that pupils get help and support early. They work effectively to prevent concerns getting worse.
Pupils learn to keep themselves and others safe through a strong safeguarding curriculum. They learn about road safety, online safety and healthy relationships. Leaders are knowledgeable about the risks in the local community.
They ensure that pupils have the knowledge they need to face them.
School safeguarding leaders value the high-quality support they receive from the trust and governors.
What does the school need to do to improve?
(Information for the school and appropriate authority)
• Teachers do not always set written tasks that are focused on the important subject knowledge in the foundation subjects.
As a result, pupils' written work does not always develop their subject knowledge as well as it could. Leaders should ensure that tasks allow practice of the important knowledge or concepts that pupils need to know so that pupils' core knowledge is secure and they can develop their 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 first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in October 2017.
