Rowena Academy

Overview

Rowena Academy is described as a school where pupils enjoy attending and engage well with adults and peers. The report highlights a "positive and respectful culture" supported by "warm relationships" that create a safe environment. Leaders are praised for knowing the school’s strengths well and having systems in place to continue moving the school "from strength to strength."

Strengths

• Personal development is rated Outstanding, with pupils showing an "excellent understanding of the world around them" and engaging confidently in debates about faith and difference.
• Early years provision is Outstanding, with a "highly ambitious" curriculum that prepares children exceptionally well for Year 1 and builds on their specific learning needs.
• Phonics and reading are taught "consistently well," with books matched carefully to pupils' knowledge and effective interventions helping those who need extra support.
• Behaviour is Good, with pupils showing "maturity and responsibility" and taking an active role in setting class rules.
• The curriculum generally builds learning effectively, with resources adapted to help pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities access learning successfully.

Areas to improve

• In key stage 1, the curriculum is not implemented sufficiently well to enable pupils to develop basic writing skills, meaning they cannot yet write "fluently, neatly and with accuracy."
• In a small number of lessons, tasks do not match the intended curriculum, preventing pupils from having the opportunity to "record their understanding of the curriculum well enough."

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."