Glenbrook Spencer Academy

Overview

Glenbrook Spencer Academy is a primary school where leaders are “very ambitious for all pupils to do well,” fostering a positive culture centred on the ‘Going for Gold’ motto. Pupils are described as “happy and proud” to attend, benefiting from a “well designed” curriculum that prioritises reading, spoken language, and inclusive attitudes. The inspection highlights a calm, respectful environment where pupils feel safe and supported.

Strengths

• The curriculum is carefully planned with “small, logical steps” and a ‘Reading Spine’ that ensures pupils engage with high-quality texts.
• Staff are “well trained to teach phonics,” using a systematic approach to help children become “fluent and confident readers.”
• Pupils behave well, adhering to ‘Glenbrook’s Golden Rules’ and understanding how to respond to bullying using the ‘STOP’ acronym.
• Leaders actively develop pupils’ spoken language, encouraging the use of “precise, technical language” in subjects like computing and geography.
• Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” with staff clearly understanding their roles and ensuring pupils receive necessary support.

Areas to improve

• Some teachers do not check on pupils’ learning “as precisely as they need to,” occasionally failing to show pupils “exactly what to do.”
• Consequently, some pupils do not secure the “depth of knowledge they need across the curriculum,” including regarding British values.
• Leaders must closely monitor curriculum implementation to ensure it is “delivered consistently well” and that all pupils remember key knowledge.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that staff know what to look out for, record-keeping is detailed, and concerns are acted upon promptly.