Alexander First School

Overview

Alexander First School is described as a “small school with a big heart” that effectively supports a transient population of pupils, many of whom have moved due to their parents’ military service. Leaders maintain a “single-minded” determination to provide high-quality educational opportunities, resulting in a curriculum that is “well established and ambitious.” The inspection highlights strong staff collaboration and a focus on helping pupils gain confidence, particularly in reading, while fostering a positive and inclusive community.

Strengths

• Staff “know pupils well” and work as a “capable team” to ensure pupils are “happy learning and playing together.”
• “Learning to read is at the heart of the curriculum,” with adults well trained in early reading strategies to help pupils link sounds to writing.
• The mathematics curriculum is “well established and ambitious,” featuring effective professional development for staff and practical resources to reinforce key concepts.
• Pupils are “kind” and show “great understanding of the challenges they face,” with bullying being “rare.”
• The headteacher is a “tenacious leader” who works in partnership with an “effective governing body” guided by a “clear, shared vision.”

Areas to improve

• In some subjects taught in blocks, pupils “find it difficult to remember what they have learned previously.” Leaders should ensure teaching “builds pupils’ learning systematically over time in all subjects.”

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with leaders going the “extra mile” to ensure pupils are safe and working closely with external agencies to secure support for families.