Royds Hall, A Share Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Across Luck Lane and Royds Hall, there is warmth, ambition, and a palpable feeling of community in this all-through school.

Staff have a strong commitment to helping children and pupils do as well as they can. Pupils have a voice in what happens at school, such as the 'ambassadors' at Luck Lane and the school council at Royds Hall. Pupils understand the recent decision to ban mobile phones in school.

Older pupils told inspectors how proud they are of their uniform.

Reception children at Luck Lane enjoy their 'balance-ability' sessions. Primary pupils enjoyed the 'break the rules' day in aid of charity.

Secondary pupils are looking forward to the upco...ming 'culture day'.

The very large majority of pupils behave well. Pupils who spoke to inspectors said that they feel safe in school, and know which staff member they would go to if worried.

To a very high degree, staff and pupils agree that bullying is not tolerated and that it is handled well when it does occur. A very small number of pupils and parents are less convinced that the school handles bullying effectively.

This is a school where all staff want the best for children and pupils.

The very large majority of pupils are on board with this level of ambition.

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

Across the early years, primary and secondary phases, the curriculum is ambitious and well delivered by teachers and teaching assistants. Leaders have made sure that the subject content of the curriculum in each subject area has been carefully matched to the national curriculum.

It is organised in such a way as to help pupils remember what they have learned, and in a sensible order. This means that their knowledge builds up over time. This process begins in the early years.

Leaders have made sure that children get off to a good start, where they are given the necessary opportunities and experiences to be ready to start key stage 1.

It is a strength of the curriculum that pupils learn a rich body of subject knowledge. In places, there is relatively less opportunity for pupils to learn some of the necessary subject skills to go alongside the facts and ideas they are learning in each subject.

For example, applying the skills of thinking and working like a scientist or a historian. Leaders are already working on strengthening this aspect of their curriculum.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported throughout the school and achieve well.

The resourced provision staff are experienced and skilled, and provide a range of respite, support and interventions for those pupils who need them.The teaching of reading is a strength. Children in the early years begin to learn phonics from the beginning.

Teachers and teaching assistants use assessment accurately to identify where children may be starting to fall behind, and quick action is taken to keep them on track. In key stage 1, a range of intervention programmes are quickly put in place to ensure that pupils keep up with their reading skills. This continues into the secondary phase for older pupils who struggle with their reading.

Throughout the school, leaders make sure that teachers stick to the agreed approach and use books which are well matched to children's and pupils' phonics ability.

Children's behaviour in the early years is of a high standard. This is also the case for pupils in the primary phase.

In the secondary phase, the large majority of pupils consistently behave well. A small number of pupils cause some disruption at times, but this is well handled by staff when it occurs. Leaders have worked effectively, and continue to do so, to improve the conduct of some pupils with particular behavioural challenges.

In addition, leaders are working effectively to reduce the number of suspensions. For example, the number of 'repeat' suspensions is falling sharply as a result of the school's work. Pupils attend well, as do disadvantaged pupils, due to leaders' and staff's tireless efforts.

The personal development curriculum is detailed and, largely, thorough. Pupils receive appropriately broad careers information, education, advice and guidance. Leaders are currently undertaking a review of the curriculum for teaching pupils about other faiths and religions.

This is sensible, as some pupils' understanding of this area is quite shallow. Pupils are able to access the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and 'Speakers Trust'. In the early years, children begin to learn about the world around them, for example through the use of role play.

The governance of the school is strong. The chief executive officer and trustees of the multi-academy trust have a secure grip on the priorities facing the school. These priorities are agreed and understood by the governing body.

There are clear lines of accountability through which school leaders are challenged and supported. Staff are supportive of improvements made since the school converted to an academy, and are proud to work at the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The trust has ensured that a large number of staff are specifically trained in managing safeguarding cases. In addition, the designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) from both the primary and secondary phases link with the DSLs in the other trust schools so that good practice and learning can be shared. The DSLs receive supervision from senior safeguarding leads, so that any emerging themes and serious matters are picked up quickly and appropriate steps taken.

The school's single central record is overseen by the trust's central human resources team. The required checks are carried out.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In places, the curriculum is not as thorough as it needs to be in developing pupils' skills in using subject methods.

For instance, in using the methods of thinking and working like a historian or scientist, as well as learning the facts and ideas of history and science. Leaders should continue with their curriculum planning to further strengthen the coverage of subject methods and disciplinary knowledge, so that it is as consistently broad and deep as the curriculum's substantive subject knowledge. ? A small minority of pupils in the secondary phase in particular cause some disruption to learning at times.

Leaders should continue to work to improve the behaviour of this small minority of pupils so that such instances are further reduced. ? Some pupils' understanding of world faiths and religions is limited. Leaders should ensure that their review of this aspect of the personal development curriculum is completed in a timely fashion, and the relevant actions taken as a result.

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