Christ Church Cep Academy, Folkestone

Overview

Pupils “thrive in the purposeful and caring atmosphere” and are “very happy at school,” supported by “extremely supportive” parents. The school delivers a “carefully considered and sequenced” curriculum with a strong emphasis on reading and vocabulary, fostering “positive, trusting relationships” and high expectations.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “broad and equally ambitious” for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with staff being “quick to identify” and support their needs.
• Phonics teaching is “extremely efficiently organised,” enabling pupils to become “confident, fluent readers” who enjoy a wide range of texts.
• Staff are “valued and supported” by leaders, working as a “dedicated team” with “good subject knowledge” to explain content and check understanding.
• Pupils demonstrate excellent behaviour, described as “polite and respectful,” and feel safe in an environment where bullying “does not worry pupils.”
• Leaders prioritise “communication and speech and language skills,” enriching vocabulary across all subjects to deepen pupils’ thinking.

Areas to improve

• In “a few foundation subjects,” activities are “not always well-matched to the intended curriculum,” meaning pupils are “not building their knowledge as securely as they could.”
• Leaders have not “clearly pinpointed precisely what needs to be done” for some improvements, particularly regarding targets for high-need SEND pupils and the impact of the early years curriculum.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with a “strong culture” where staff are “quick to spot any signs that a child may be at risk of harm” and take “swift action.”