Leighton Academy

Overview

Leighton Academy is described as a place where pupils are "happy and safe," benefiting from a "purposeful and interesting curriculum" and high expectations for learning and behaviour. Leaders have driven significant improvements since the previous inspection, fostering a culture where staff feel supported and pupils achieve well across most subjects.

Strengths

• Pupils are "happy and safe," knowing they can approach trusted adults with concerns, and bullying is dealt with "quickly and well."
• The curriculum is "purposeful and interesting," with leaders carefully selecting content and enriching it through trips and overseas visits linked to modern foreign languages.
• Reading is a priority, with a "consistent approach to the teaching of early reading" and well-trained staff ensuring books are matched to pupils’ phonics progress.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are identified early and taught alongside peers, enabling them to "access the full curriculum" and achieve well.
• Leaders are "relentless in their efforts to ensure pupils attend school every day," and staff appreciate how leaders consider their workload and well-being.

Areas to improve

• In some classes, particularly in the early years and key stage 1, teachers do not always design learning that helps pupils "build on their knowledge securely over time."
• In a few classes, teachers do not routinely check pupils’ understanding, meaning gaps and misconceptions in knowledge are not always identified and addressed.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are "effective," with a shared culture where staff are trained to be alert to potential harm and respond quickly to welfare concerns.