Ryecroft Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school A strong, united and determined leadership team has made substantial and sustained improvements since the last inspection. Considerable improvements in the quality of teaching mean that pupils make increasingly strong progress.

Teachers' assessment of pupils helps them plan work that is just right to challenge most pupils well. Outcomes are not yet good. This is mainly because, despite the quickening progress of pupils, progress is not consistently strong across a wide range of subjects.

Attainment remains low, but is improving. Leaders have put in place a well-planned English and mathematics curriculum. The planning and teaching of other... subjects is less well-developed.

As a result, although pupils acquire increasingly broad knowledge, activities do not often enough deepen this knowledge. Very effective leadership ensures that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive high-quality support to help them make good progress. Well-trained and well-organised teaching assistants make a strong contribution to pupils' learning and development.

Provision in the early years, including for two-year-olds, gets children off to a good start. The teaching of early reading is effective. Pupils across the school enjoy listening to quality literature.

They read more often, but too many older pupils do not read fluently and with good comprehension. This is because of weaker teaching and curriculum provision earlier in their school journey. Leaders have brought about an enormous improvement in pupils' behaviour.

The vast majority of pupils work hard and behave well at all times and in all parts of the school. Leaders ensure that pupils are being well-prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils demonstrate tolerance, respect and a growing understanding of people who are different from themselves.

Caring adults are watchful and scrupulous in ensuring the welfare and safety of pupils. An exceptionally well-led sports and physical education (PE) programme helps pupils to understand the value of being healthy and builds pupils' resilience. Senior leaders direct and support middle leaders well.

Middle leaders have made a promising start to improving the quality of the curriculum, but there is more to do. Despite the tenacious work of leaders, attendance remains low.

Information about this school

Ryecroft Primary Academy is a larger-than-average-sized primary school with provision for two-year-olds.

The school is sponsored by Northern Education Trust. The trust board is accountable for the performance of schools within the trust. The trust board delegates responsibilities to each school's academy council to provide support and challenge to school leaders.

A chief executive officer, who leads the trust, is appointed by the trust board, who hold him to account for the quality of education in each school. Around a quarter of pupils are of minority ethnic heritage. Fewer than one in five speaks English as an additional language.

Two thirds of pupils are eligible for support through the pupil premium. This is substantially above the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average.