Walton Peak Flying High Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This school has improved markedly in recent years. Pupils appreciate the school's warm and welcoming environment, where everyone and everyday matters. Parents and carers know that staff go the extra mile to make sure that pupils feel valued and happy.

Pupils want to come to school because, as one of them was eager to explain, 'it will make them smart for the future'.

Positive relationships play a crucial role in the school's culture. Pupils know that staff expect them to 'do the right thing, in the right way, at the right time'.

Most pupils conduct themselves well and are typically polite and respectful. They like playing together during social times. They lo...ve gaining points for having positive attitudes and behaving well.

However, in lessons, some pupils get distracted too easily from the task in hand.

Most pupils are enthusiastic learners. They are keen to discuss their ideas with each other and share what they know.

They appreciate that staff want them to do the best they can, and many pupils try hard to achieve this. Pupils love taking part in trips, such as visiting the Derwent Valley reservoirs when studying the Second World War and going to Derby Museum to find out more about the Vikings.

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

Since joining this multi-academy trust, swift actions have been taken to bring about much-needed improvements across all aspects of the school's provision.

As a result of this work, the school has been transformed. Pupils benefit from learning an ambitious curriculum that gives them the knowledge and skills they need to be successful. While there is still some work to be done, the school now provides pupils with the high quality of education they deserve.

These improvements are reflected in the school's most-recent published outcomes.

Work to develop the curriculum is well advanced. In each subject, starting with the early years, the school has given careful thought to what it wants pupils to learn and when.

Subject-specific content has been identified precisely, as well as key vocabulary that pupils should know. The school's local context has inspired some of the curriculum content so that pupils can relate what they learn to their own experiences. This detailed curriculum thinking ensures that teachers know exactly what pupils have learned and what comes next.

Teachers follow the curriculum closely. They ask searching questions that help to 'reactivate' pupils' learning and choose appropriate resources that challenge and support them. Pupils are often excited by their learning and want to know more.

However, teachers are sometimes not clear enough about exactly what they want pupils to learn and remember. The way they teach pupils new content is not always suitable. When this happens, pupils are not always sure about what they are learning or why.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) get a good deal. The needs of these pupils are identified precisely. Appropriate strategies are used to help most of these pupils follow the same curriculum as their peers.

Developing pupils' love of language is a key priority. In the nursery provision, children frequently sing songs together and recite rhyming words. When pupils are ready to read, they practise the sounds they know and learn new ones every day.

Any pupils who fall behind with their reading get the help they need to catch up. Pupils in key stage 2 improve their reading fluency by exploring increasingly complex texts. Pupils love being given their own book to take home as a reward for how often they read.

Children in the early years love playing together, particularly in the well-resourced outdoor environment. There are plenty of opportunities for them to practise their writing and number work. They enjoy activities that support their physical development.

Staff use information about each child's progress to plan their next steps. Parents comment that their children flourish in this setting.

Most pupils enjoy coming to school.

When this is not the case, work to improve attendance is making a positive difference in most instances. The school's new approach to supporting pupils with their behaviour is also having a positive impact. However, some pupils need extra help to develop appropriate attitudes to learning.

Pupils know how to be a good citizen. They make positive contributions to their local community, for instance by arranging fundraising events for a nearby hospice. They understand why they must not discriminate against others.

Pupils learn how to stay physically fit and active and know how to keep themselves safe. They appreciate opportunities to develop their talents and discover new interests.

Staff share a strong team spirit.

They work together closely to support each other. Staff praise the support they get from school and trust leaders to help them improve their professional practice.

Local governors and trustees have played a vital role in helping the school to prioritise the right things to bring about swift improvements.

They are committed to providing ongoing support so that these improvements are sustained.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Teachers do not always make suitable pedagogical choices when they teach new subject content.

When this happens, some pupils are unsure about what they are learning and do not engage well enough with the activity. They struggle to secure their knowledge of the planned subject content. The school needs to ensure that all staff have the knowledge and skills they need to deliver the well-planned curriculum effectively in every subject.

• In some lessons, pupils take time to settle to a task and get distracted. This delays their learning. The school needs to ensure that there are consistent expectations about how pupils should conduct themselves in lessons so that no learning time is lost.