Alderman Cogan's Church of England Primary Academy

Overview

The report describes a school where “most pupils enjoy their time” and are “well supported and cared for by adults.” Leaders have introduced an “ambitious, well-structured curriculum” that is improving educational quality, though some older pupils retain knowledge gaps from previous years. While overall effectiveness is rated Good, the early years provision requires improvement due to inconsistent implementation.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “respectful” relationships and focus on learning in lessons that are “free from disruptions.”
• Teachers provide “effective support” for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Leaders have secured a “consistent approach to the teaching of phonics,” helping struggling readers catch up.
• Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” with pupils possessing an “impressive” knowledge of online safety.
• Recent initiatives, such as ‘reading picnics’, have helped “raise the profile of reading in the school.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure recently reviewed subject curriculums, particularly in mathematics, are “well understood and consistently implemented by staff.”
• The early years curriculum is not consistently effective; leaders should ensure staff design activities that help children “learn and remember the intended curriculum,” especially outdoors.
• Senior leaders and trustees should provide support to enable new leaders to “successfully embed their recent initiatives.”

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that staff know how to report concerns and leaders make appropriate referrals to external agencies.