St Richard’s VC Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a school where pupils learn how to be curious and resilient learners. Pupils understand the importance of the school's 'Star Values'.

These values include being compassionate and taking responsibility for your actions. The school's values are carefully woven through the curriculum and the life of the school. Pupils are highly respectful to each other and to people with different backgrounds or beliefs.

The school is aspirational for pupils. Pupils respond well to the school's high expectations. All pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well.

Pupils have very positive attitudes to learning. Pupils be...have well. They listen carefully to teachers' instructions and concentrate in lessons.

The school prioritises the development of pupils' character. Pupils benefit from taking part in a wide range of activities as they move through the school. For example, the school expects every pupil to learn to cook a meal for the family by the time they leave the school.

There are many opportunities for pupils to lead activities in school. From an early age, pupils learn to become increasingly independent.

Pupils are safe in school.

Bullying is rare. Pupils are confident that staff will help them if they have any concerns.

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

The school is clear about what it wants pupils to know and remember in each subject.

The school carries out regular checks to find out what pupils know and can do. Staff use this information to identify, and address, gaps in pupils' learning. The school ensures pupils revisit important subject knowledge when needed.

Pupils can talk confidently about what they have learned.

The school has an ambitious curriculum for the teaching of early reading. Pupils enjoy the range of interesting books on offer.

Pupils develop a love of reading. Staff receive training in the school's chosen phonics programme. However, there are some slight inconsistencies in how well adults apply this training.

This means that a small number of pupils do not learn to read new sounds in words and sentences well enough. The school's checks on what sounds pupils have learned are not as consistent as they need to be.

The school establishes strong relationships with parents and carers as soon as children start school in the Nursery class.

There is an effective early years curriculum. This supports children to build on what they know. Adults help children to learn through interesting and purposeful activities.

There are lots of opportunities for children to find out about the world around them. Children are well prepared for key stage 1.

The school has a well-designed mathematics curriculum.

Pupils spend time each day practising things they have learned. Pupils can confidently remember important mathematical vocabulary. All pupils have frequent opportunities to develop their problem-solving skills.

Pupils achieve well in mathematics.

Pupils respond very positively to the school's behaviour policy. The school is calm and orderly.

Most pupils attend well. The school is aware that there are a small number of pupils who do not attend as well as they need to. The school is highly proactive in working with parents to improve the attendance of all pupils.

There is clear evidence that this work is having a positive impact on school attendance.

There are many opportunities for pupils to develop their interests. Pupils enjoy taking part in a very wide range of extra-curricular experiences, such as coding and cooking clubs.

The school's lunchtime and after-school clubs are very well attended by all groups of pupils. The school provides pupils with exceptional opportunities to develop their talents. For example, some pupils worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company to perform in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Pupils have an excellent awareness of strategies that promote mental health and well-being. The school promotes equal opportunities very well. Pupils have a strong understanding of what it means to discriminate against others.

They know this is wrong. Pupils provide high levels of care to peers with additional needs. Pupils hear from a wide range of speakers.

For example, the police and fire and rescue services visit the school to talk about safety in the community.

Pupils with SEND are well supported. The school works closely with external agencies to ensure that pupils with SEND receive the help that they need.

Pupils' support plans contain detailed information about how to meet the needs of individual pupils. Staff implement these plans well. The school ensures pupils with SEND can access the curriculum effectively and alongside their peers.

Leaders have established a strong team culture. The school is considerate of staff's workload. Staff feel valued.

They appreciate the support they receive from leaders and the academy trust. Governors have a detailed understanding of the strengths of the school. They know what they need to do to make further improvements.

Trustees and governors provide school leaders with effective challenge and support.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The school's implementation of its phonics programme, including the checks it makes on pupils' phonics knowledge, is not as consistent as it needs to be.

This means that a small number of pupils cannot read some sounds in words and sentences as confidently and fluently as they need to. The school should ensure that adults carefully check that all pupils know the sounds they are learning and can use these sounds securely when reading letters and words. As part of this work, the school should continue to review the phonics training it provides to adults.