Archbishop Courtenay Primary School

Overview

The report describes a school where pupils are “proud of the caring and inclusive community” and benefit from a “nurturing approach” that fosters mutual respect. Leaders have successfully developed staff subject knowledge, resulting in a strong curriculum where pupils are “happy, kind and considerate.” However, the inspection highlights that attendance remains a significant concern, with leaders needing to “redouble their efforts” to address persistent absence.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “calm and orderly” behaviour, settling to work quickly due to “carefully chosen routines” established from early years.
• Reading is a distinct strength, with a “robust approach to teaching phonics” ensuring all children become “confident, fluent readers.”
• Staff provide effective adaptations for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, who benefit from “clear expectations and support.”
• Leaders promote personal development through character-building initiatives, such as an ‘International Day’, allowing pupils to “learn how to be leaders.”

Areas to improve

• In some foundation subjects, end-of-topic reviews do not identify knowledge gaps in sufficient detail, meaning teachers lack clarity on what pupils need to revisit.
• Leaders have not sufficiently addressed low overall attendance and persistent absence, causing too many pupils to miss key learning.
• Middle leaders are not consistently strategic when reviewing curriculum impact, meaning staff do not receive the support required for responsive changes.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that staff are vigilant, use robust procedures to report concerns, and that designated leads are “tenacious in their work” to ensure pupils receive necessary help.