Eastgate Academy

Overview

Eastgate Academy is confirmed as an outstanding school, described as a “trusted, respected and loved part of the local community.” Pupils are “extremely proud to attend” and thrive academically and socially within a culture of ambition and high expectations. The inspection confirms that the school maintains its previous outstanding judgement through effective leadership and a well-designed curriculum.

Strengths

• Leaders have designed a “well-thought-out and ambitious curriculum” that breaks complex aims into “small, precise chunks,” allowing pupils to “successfully layer new learning on top of existing knowledge.”
• Teaching is “precise” with “clear” instruction and accurate explanations; adaptations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are “effective.”
• Pupils behave “impeccably,” are “polite and considerate,” and bullying is “rare,” creating an environment where pupils feel “safe, cared for and happy.”
• Children in the early years make “rapid gains in knowledge” through play activities carefully linked to formal learning, preparing them well for key stage 1.
• Pupils are “enthusiastic and confident readers,” with struggling readers supported by “well-planned additional support” and books matched exactly to their known sounds.

Areas to improve

The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with a “strong culture of safeguarding” ensuring staff recognise signs of need and report concerns swiftly, while leaders take “rapid and decisive action to keep pupils safe from harm.”