St Edward's Church of England Academy

Overview

The report describes a school where “pupils are happy” and “feel safe,” benefiting from an “ambitious curriculum” that is “well sequenced.” Under new senior leadership, the school has made “rapid improvements,” with staff demonstrating high expectations and a strong focus on staff well-being.

Strengths

• Pupils exhibit “very positive attitudes to their learning” and “live up to the school’s statement to ‘live and breathe our core values’.”
• The curriculum allows pupils to “build their knowledge based on their previous learning,” with specialists teaching most subjects from Year 5 upwards.
• Teachers expose pupils to “challenging texts,” leading to a greater proportion achieving a “higher standard” in reading.
• There is a “very extensive range of clubs and wider activities,” including over 50 options, with “strong” take-up among disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.
• Trustees have acted “more strategically” and “know the school very well,” engaging effectively with external partners.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure priorities lead to “rapid and sustained improvement for disadvantaged pupils in standards, progress and attendance,” as the gap with peers is “slow to close.”
• The school should ensure “high expectations for presentation are consistent across school,” as some pupils take “less care in the presentation of their written work.”

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”