The Milford Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school. It is at the heart of the local community and is welcoming and friendly. Parents and carers are very positive about the school and say such things as, 'We think the school is brilliant.'

The overall effectiveness of the Early Years Foundation stage is good. Pupils make good progress as they move through the school and attainment is rising. The quality of teaching is good.

School records and inspection evidence indicate that the proportion of good or better teaching is increasing. Pupils say that they enjoy their learning. Teaching assistants provide sensitive and helpful support for disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs.

As a result, thes...e pupils make good progress. Pupils' attitudes to learning and behaviour in lessons and around the school are consistently good. Pupils report that they all get on well together and bullying is extremely rare.

Pupils are polite and courteous to visitors and they are very proud of their school. The headteacher and senior staff have an accurate understanding of the strengths and areas for development in the school. As a result they have provided regular training and opportunities to share good practice which has driven up the quality of teaching.

Performance management systems are robust. Leaders have successfully addressed all areas for improvement identified at the last inspection. The school is not yet outstanding because high quality marking is not consistently implemented across all areas of the curriculum.

While the governing body is committed to the school, it is too reliant on school leaders to provide it with information. Although appropriate areas for improvement are prioritised, some action plans lack sharpness and precision.

Information about the school

Milford is a larger than average-sized primary school.

Most pupils are White British. The percentage of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and in the early stages of learning English is below that found nationally. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is above average.

The percentage of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is above average and includes pupils with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties and speech, language and communication needs. The proportion of pupils with a statement of special educational needs is below average. The school meets the current floor standard.

The school has achieved the Healthy Schools Health and Wellbeing Improvement award in recent years. The school operates its own breakfast club and the Milford Out Of School Experience (Moose) after school club which were included as part of this inspection. A privately run nursery, Busy Bees, operates from the school site and was not included in this inspection.