High Street Primary Academy

Overview

High Street Primary Academy is described as a ‘special place’ where pupils are ‘excited to begin learning’ and demonstrate determination to meet high expectations. The report highlights ‘dramatic improvements’ since the previous inspection, noting that parents ‘wholeheartedly appreciate’ leaders’ support and that the school no longer requires significant improvement.

Strengths

• Pupils engage with a ‘highly ambitious curriculum’ where teachers ‘break down learning into small steps’ to ensure success, particularly for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• There is a strong culture of respect and behaviour, underpinned by the ‘manners curriculum’, where pupils ‘greet each other and visitors politely’ and take responsibility for their actions.
• Reading is celebrated as a ‘treat’, with pupils developing ‘confidence and fluency’ through regular practice and targeted support for those who find it difficult.
• The early years provision is effective, with children making ‘rapid progress’ and leaving ‘well prepared for the curriculum in Year 1’.
• Safeguarding arrangements are ‘effective’, with a ‘strong culture of safeguarding’ and staff who remain vigilant through regular training.

Areas to improve

• Leaders need to support pupils to ‘recall more of their previous learning’ so they can build new knowledge more effectively, as some currently remember less of prior content.
• Leaders must continue to support parents to ‘reduce persistent absence’, as too many pupils still miss school too often, leading to gaps in understanding.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’, with staff trained to identify concerns and leaders taking prompt action to help vulnerable families.