Crabbs Cross Academy

Overview

Crabbs Cross Academy is described as a "caring, happy school" where pupils feel safe and are treated with respect. However, the report states that the "quality of education" and "behaviour and attitudes" require improvement, largely due to inconsistent teaching and a lack of focus in lessons. While personal development and early years provision are rated as good, the school has not yet ensured that the curriculum is taught consistently well across all subjects.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a "broad range of subjects" and memorable tasks, with a strong emphasis on developing a "love of reading" from Reception.
• The school promotes positive values, ensuring pupils know how to "live healthy lifestyles" and keep safe, particularly online.
• Early years provision is effective, with children settling quickly into routines and benefiting from daily phonics lessons.
• Pupils benefit from leadership opportunities and extra-curricular clubs, which help build self-esteem and prepare them for life in modern Britain.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure all teachers have "strong subject knowledge" and that tasks focus sharply on teaching subject-specific knowledge, rather than being driven by activity choice.
• The school needs to refine its assessment approach to precisely identify and address gaps in what pupils know and remember.
• Staff must better adapt the curriculum for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to ensure they access learning effectively.
• Behaviour management requires consistency to address low-level disruptions and ensure all pupils remain focused on learning.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."