St John’s CofE Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils and children in the early years are happy at this inclusive school. Warm relationships with staff ensure that children and pupils feel safe and are safe. They know that there is always someone to talk to if they are worried or upset and they are confident that they will be supported.

As a result, there is a calm, respectful culture that reflects the school's Christian values of respect and forgiveness.

Pupils are eager to learn. They strive to meet the higher expectations now in place.

They enjoy the sense of achievement when they do so, particularly in reading.Pupils' behaviour is good in classrooms and around the school. Pupils know the school rules ...and are confident that they will be supported and rewarded for good behaviour and challenged for poor behaviour.

Pupils are encouraged to be kind to one another. They are quick to help each other, and they understand when others may need extra help and attention.

There are many clubs and activities available.

Pupils say that these match their interests well. They speak with enthusiasm of visits to museums, an airport, a pottery manufacturer and the theatre. Many learn to play a musical instrument.

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

The new headteacher is taking the right actions to improve the quality of education in this school. On her arrival, she rapidly and accurately identified the weaknesses in the curriculum and its delivery. With strong backing from governors, she has set about a root and branch review of how each subject is taught.

Together, senior and subject leaders have worked to redesign the curriculum in each subject so that careful account is taken of what all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), need to learn. Subject leaders now have the tools and understanding they need to check that pupils are learning and remembering what they have been taught.

The changes and improvements made to early reading have been quickly established and delivered by well-trained staff.

As a result, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of children and pupils learning to read fluently and accurately.

From early years onwards, there is increasingly rapid identification of need for those pupils with SEND. As a result, these pupils are now making much better progress, particularly in reading

Other areas of the newly designed curriculum are less secure at this early stage.

Sometimes the sequence of learning in a subject over time is not as clear as it could be. In these cases, how pupils will meet the agreed end points across the curriculum is not always exemplified. Equally, some subject leaders have yet to prioritise the most important learning so that the curriculum does not become overcrowded or confusing for learners.

Teachers have good subject and teaching knowledge, and they have been well supported by high-quality training. Teachers know pupils very well. They routinely use questioning well to identify and address misconceptions and gaps in learning.

However, there is less clarity about how more formal assessment methods, and the subsequent feedback, help pupils to understand their next steps in learning. It is also unclear how assessment strategies help leaders to review what is being taught and how it is being taught.

A legacy of poor presentation and poor handwriting has created a barrier to learning.

This is because pupils do not always understand the records they have made of their work. As a result, they cannot go back and check what they have learned to help them to build on that.

There have been historic issues about the quality of provision in the early years which has hindered children's development and learning.

However, following the appointment of a temporary early years teacher, the curriculum and care practices have been improved quickly. Children are not where leaders would like them to be with their achievement. However, they are now learning routines to help them develop their knowledge across the curriculum.

A sharp focus on early reading and developing vocabulary is supporting children to catch up.

Leaders have ensured that children and pupils have a wide range of activities and opportunities that broaden their understanding of their wider community and how they can be active citizens. Pupils have a good understanding of fundamental British values and can link these to their own lives and experiences.

They are respectful and tolerant of the choices and beliefs of others. The belief that everyone should be included is deeply embedded.

The urgent need to secure improvement for pupils has created workload pressures for teachers.

Leaders are aware of these and are actively working to reduce the pressure as they maintain the pace of improvement.

The rapid pace of change has been difficult for some parents and staff to accept. Inspectors were told that the pace and nature of the changes had altered the character of the school.

Although many agreed that improvements were probably needed, they felt that better communication from leaders would have eased the process.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Safeguarding pupils is a priority in this school.

Leaders have strengthened processes to ensure that all staff are alert to any sign of need and are well equipped to identify and raise concerns. Leaders have made it clear that no concern is too small to raise.

Leaders work effectively with external agencies.

As a result, pupils and their families are offered early help if they need it.

All staff and governors have received appropriate and extensive training.

Pupils are taught how to recognise risks and to keep themselves safe.

They know what to do if they are worried about anything.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The new curriculum is not fully developed and embedded. As a result, in some subjects, pupils do not learn and remember as much as they could.

Leaders should ensure that the planned learning is fully implemented in all subjects and that impact can be measured in terms of pupils' progress. ? Formal checks on pupils' understanding are not used well enough to shape their learning. As a result, pupils do not always know what to do to improve, and teachers do not always identify where the curriculum and the way it is implemented may need to be reviewed.

Leaders should ensure that the purpose of formal assessment is clearly articulated and designed to improve pupils' outcomes. ? The legacy of poor presentation and handwriting is creating an unnecessary barrier to learning for too many pupils. Leaders should make sure that the higher expectations now in place are reinforced and monitored.

• Historically, children in the early years have not made the progress they should. Consequently, some children in reception are not as well prepared for Year 1 as they should be. Leaders should maintain regular oversight of early years provision to ensure that the rapid rate of improvement is sustained.

• Communication has not been effective enough to ensure that all stakeholders have understood the mission of improving outcomes for pupils and their preparedness for their next steps that sit behind the recent changes. As a result, relationships with some staff and parents are strained. Leaders should ensure that they work closely with all stakeholders to improve communication.