Manor Croft Academy

Overview

Manor Croft Academy is described as an inclusive school where staff are united in their commitment to ensuring every pupil succeeds. The report highlights a “broad and knowledge-rich curriculum” enhanced by extra-curricular activities, resulting in pupils who are “ready for their next steps.” Leaders maintain “universally high expectations for behaviour and attendance,” fostering warm relationships and a generally calm atmosphere.

Strengths

• The curriculum is ambitious, with teachers skilfully planning sequences that help pupils build and recall subject-specific knowledge over time.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are “well supported” and fully involved in all aspects of school life.
• There are “warm and supportive relationships between staff and pupils,” with staff acting swiftly to address concerns or rare instances of bullying.
• Leaders and governors are praised as “experienced and skilled strategic leaders” who prioritise staff workload and well-being.
• The ‘Pledges’ scheme and pupil leadership roles enable students to develop confidence and act as positive role models.

Areas to improve

• Support for pupils at the earliest stages of learning to read is “not sufficiently effective” because staff leading these sessions lack full training in the chosen scheme.
• Pupils do not consistently recall important knowledge from ethics, philosophy and citizenship (EPC) lessons, including knowledge of world religions and fundamental British values.
• A few pupils continue to disrupt the learning of others, requiring continued support to make better behavioural choices.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with strong systems in place, staff who know the signs of risk, and pupils who understand how to report concerns.