Lympsham Church of England Academy

Overview

Lympsham Church of England Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The school is described as a small institution with ‘big dreams’, where staff know pupils well and parents offer unwavering support. It provides a calm, purposeful environment where pupils behave well and are enthusiastic about their learning.

Strengths

• The school has designed an ‘ambitious curriculum’ that sets out key knowledge and vocabulary, helping pupils build knowledge well across subjects.
• Most pupils achieve well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who are identified swiftly and supported through necessary adaptations.
• There is a strong focus on reading, with children learning to read from Reception and staff quickly spotting those needing additional support.
• Pupils develop a ‘strong sense of community’, engaging in charity work and enjoying opportunities like Lego, choir, and photography.
• Personal development is ‘well thought out’, with pupils understanding healthy relationships, consent, and the importance of keeping safe online.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, checks by teachers are not used effectively to secure and build on pupils’ knowledge, meaning some do not build the depth of knowledge leaders intend.
• The trust needs to ensure teachers use assessment information to integrate new knowledge into larger ideas and ensure pupils retain this depth securely across all subjects.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.