The Harleston Sancroft Academy (a 3-16 Church of England School)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage make good progress in all areas of learning.

By the end of Reception, they are well prepared for Year 1. Pupils continue to make good progress throughout Key Stages 1 and 2. By the end of Year 6, they reach above-average standards in English and mathematics.

The very few pupils who speak English as an additional language make outstanding progress. Teaching is good. Some outstanding teaching was seen in the Early Years Foundation Stage, in physical education and in mathematics.

Teachers maintain excellent relationships with pupils and manage behaviour well. Teachers make sure pupils ne...arly always remain focused on learning and make good progress. Pupils' behaviour and safety are good.

Pupils are keen to learn and most arrive punctually to lessons. The headteacher, senior leaders and managers have successfully sustained good-quality teaching and good achievement since the previous inspection, with a steady increase in the proportion of outstanding teaching. Governors provide good support for the school and, together with senior leaders, demonstrate good capacity for continued improvement.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils' progress in writing does not exceed expected progress as it does in reading and mathematics. Some pupils do not know how to improve their writing in different subjects. Teachers identify spelling errors but do not follow these up to ensure that pupils learn the correct spellings.

Some adults do not always encourage pupils to write legibly and neatly, and improve their use of punctuation and grammar.

Information about this school

This is a larger-than-average primary school. The number of pupils has increased since the last inspection.

Most pupils are from White British backgrounds. Very few pupils speak English as an additional language. The school receives pupil premium funding for an average proportion of pupils.

This is additional funding for those known to be eligible for free school meals, in local authority care, or from a family with a parent in the armed forces. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs who are supported at school action is broadly average. A similar proportion of pupils are supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectation for pupils' attainment and progress. Since September 2013, a significant number of pupils (12%) have joined or left partway through their primary school education. Two assistant headteachers were recently appointed.