The Arbours Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have the highest expectations of all staff and all pupils. They have created an environment where everyone gets the support they need to thrive. Teachers consistently deliver lessons of great quality.

Pupils' achievements are exceptional.

Pupils live and breathe the school's four core values of aspiration, ambition, courage and respect. They work with such care, effort and pride.

They treat each other how they want to be treated themselves, with kindness and fairness. Pupils told inspectors that everyone is made to feel welcome at The Arbours and it is easy to make lots of friends. A pupil in Year 6 represented the views of others when they said, 'Thi...s school is a safe space – people are respectful and supportive of your opinions and beliefs.'



Pupils' behaviour is impeccable. They have such positive attitudes towards learning. This allows them to make the most of the school's excellent curriculum and the abundance of breathtaking opportunities on offer to broaden their horizons.

Pupils are rightly proud to attend The Arbours. They know their school is special and they would not change a single thing about it. One parent summed it up well when they described the school as 'Northampton's best kept secret'.

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

The school's curriculum is of an exceptional quality. It is extremely ambitious and very well sequenced. Leaders have deliberately designed the curriculum to give all pupils a rich body of knowledge and a wide vocabulary.

Every subject has been planned in great detail. Teachers know exactly what to teach and when. Pupils learn in a precise, logical order.

As a result, pupils add to their knowledge, develop their skills and deepen their understanding as they move through the school.

The development of pupils' language and communication is a key feature of all lessons. Teachers skilfully orchestrate conversations with their class, questioning pupils to build and check on their understanding.

Pupils play active roles in these discussions. They listen to their classmates and add to the contributions of others. Teachers model learning precisely so that pupils can learn from their example.

Teachers recap on prior learning to keep it fresh in pupils' minds. This style of teaching ensures that all pupils achieve consistently highly.

Teachers adapt their lessons well to make sure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language learn the same ambitious curriculum as their peers.

The leader with responsibility for SEND ensures that pupils get support that is matched to their individual needs. Disadvantaged pupils benefit from mentoring with their 'Pupil Premium Champion'.

Pupils achieve highly in reading.

Leaders provide frequent training and coaching to ensure that reading is taught consistently well. Staff are experts in how to teach the school's phonics programme. Children begin to learn to read from the moment they start school.

Frequent checks mean that any pupil who needs additional support is given it straight away. Pupils in the early stages of reading are given books matched to the letter sounds they know. Pupils love reading.

They read widely and often. They really enjoy the challenging texts that they read in class. Year 5 pupils, for example, talked fondly and knowledgeably about the many poems they have read.

They described them as 'exciting' and 'inspirational'.

Children get off to a flying start in the early years. Leaders ensure that children are well prepared for key stage 1.

However, staff sometimes miss opportunities to develop children's communication and language skills when they are learning outside.

The personal development curriculum at The Arbours is remarkable. An incredibly rich range of experiences open pupils' eyes to the awe and wonder of the world.

Pupils regularly have the chance to compete, dance, sing and perform. They really appreciate opportunities do things out of the ordinary, such as going to the beach for the very first time or putting on their own opera. There are many roles and responsibilities on offer for pupils to contribute to the life of the school and the community.'

Peer supporters', for instance, are available on the playground to offer care and guidance to their fellow pupils. Leaders are preparing pupils well for life in modern Britain. Pupils are very knowledgeable about fundamental British values and a range of faiths and cultures.

Leaders are passionate, committed and dynamic. They frequently monitor all aspects of school life to ensure that their vision is being realised. Staff value the first-rate training they receive in all subjects.

They are overwhelmingly positive about the support they receive for their well-being and workload.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders ensure that staff understand their role in keeping pupils safe.

Leaders frequently provide safeguarding training. They check on staff expertise. Staff report anything that concerns them straight away.

Safeguarding records are detailed. Leaders work well with other agencies. They ensure that pupils and their families get the support they need.

Pupils know they can share with the adults in the school anything that worries them. They are taught what it means to feel safe and how to respond when they do not. Leaders have adapted the curriculum so that pupils learn about potential risks in the local community.