Staniland Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils rapidly gain a love of learning in this impressive academy. Their achievement is outstanding.

They leave with overall standards of attainment that are well above average. Pupils' outstanding overall progress, particularly in mathematics, ensures they are excellently prepared for the next stage of their learning. Teaching is outstanding.

This is the main reason why pupils make such rapid gains in learning. Pupils from all backgrounds make exceptional progress, no matter what their ability level, because of the very high quality support they receive. Behaviour is outstanding.

Pupils are unfailingly polite, well mann...ered and considerate. They are always eager to do their best. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent.

All classrooms are colourful, well organised and well equipped with easily accessible and often used resources for learning. The headteacher's excellent leadership provides excellent direction for the academy. He clearly expects the very best for each pupil and from all staff.

Leadership is outstanding at all levels. All staff members know their roles and carry them out meticulously. They are totally committed to high quality in everything they do.

Attendance is rising due to the academy's effective work with the families of the communities it serves, but still only average. Pupils' outstanding punctuality is helped by many attending the breakfast club each morning. Governors are deeply and effectively involved in the work of the academy.

They not only give excellent support, but also offer very well-informed challenge. Methods for checking on the quality of teaching and learning are exemplary. Teachers are helped to become ever better through excellent training and support.

As a result, teaching has improved markedly, and the pace of learning has soared.

Information about this school

This academy is larger than the average-sized primary school. It is part of a small multi-academy trust (The Boston Whitham Academies Federation) and converted to an academy on 1 September 2012.

The predecessor school, Boston Staniland Primary & Nursery School, was judged to be satisfactory when last inspected by Ofsted. An average proportion of pupils are supported by the pupil premium, which in this case provides additional funding for pupils in local authority care or known to be eligible for free school meals. An above-average proportion of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

An above-average proportion of pupils, rising rapidly, speak English as an additional language. Most of these pupils are from eastern European countries. The proportion of pupils who join or leave the academy partway through their primary school education is well above average.

The academy supports a much larger than average proportion of pupils through school action because they have a disability or special educational needs. An average proportion have a statement of special educational needs or are supported at school action plus. The academy meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The academy's local governors oversee the operation of the free daily breakfast club, which is attended by about 80 pupils, and the recently opened after-school club for about 20 pupils for which a small charge is levied. The academy has been recognised by the Minister of State for Schools, as one of the 100 most improved schools in the country. The academy has already begun a building programme to accommodate a 50% rise in the number of pupils.