Boston Pioneers Free School Academy

Overview: Boston Pioneers Free School Academy is a good school where care and support for pupils and their families are at the centre of every action that staff take. Pupils are encouraged to be 'pioneers', and they show respect and kindness to each other in abundance. The school has high expectations of all pupils, and most pupils rise to these expectations.

Strengths:

• The school's curriculum is ambitious and identifies the important knowledge that pupils should learn and in what order.
• Teachers have secure subject knowledge.
• The school prioritises reading and ensures that pupils understand its importance.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are very well cared for.
• Staff provide strong pastoral support.
• The school has been tenacious in its actions to improve attendance.
• Leaders are driven by a clear moral purpose and ensure that pupils, regardless of their starting points, flourish both academically and socially.

Areas to improve:

• The school has not ensured that pupils benefit from meaningful opportunities to develop their writing skills across the curriculum. As a result, some pupils do not develop their writing stamina as well as they could, nor do they consistently produce writing of a high quality, including using the appropriate spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• At times, staff do not make precise adaptations to their teaching, and pupils too often rely on adult support. This means that some pupils do not learn with independence or develop their understanding as successfully as they could.

Safeguarding: The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.