Audley Primary School

Overview

Audley Primary School is described as a place where pupils are “well looked after and cared for,” enjoying a “positive and friendly atmosphere.” The report highlights that the new leadership team has driven “swift improvements” since the pandemic, establishing an “ambitious curriculum” and a “culture of aspiration.” Overall, the school is judged to be effective, with strong support from its trust and staff who feel “well supported” and proud of their work.

Strengths

• Leaders prioritise reading, ensuring children in early years receive daily phonics lessons, resulting in pupils reading with “increased fluency and confidence.”
• The curriculum is “coherently sequenced,” with subject leaders clearly identifying knowledge and skills, helping pupils recall “current and prior learning.”
• Staff maintain “high expectations” for behaviour, creating a “calm and orderly environment” where pupils are polite and attentive.
• Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” with leaders being “relentless in following up their concerns” to ensure pupil safety.
• Pupils benefit from a wide variety of experiences, including charity work, choir, and sports clubs, which enhance their personal development.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must embed recent improvements in identifying and supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) across all classes, as inconsistencies currently hinder progress for a small number of pupils.
• Leaders should continue working with families to raise attendance, which remains “too low” and hinders pupil progress despite recent improvements.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that staff are well trained to identify risks and that leaders take “swift action” when issues arise.