Swaffham CofE Primary Academy

Overview

Pupils at Swaffham C of E Primary Academy “enjoy coming to school both to learn and to spend time with their friends” and feel safe within a community underpinned by clear values. Leaders have constructed an “ambitious and well sequenced” curriculum that ensures learning builds year after year, supported by effective training for staff. The school is rated Good across all inspection categories, with particular praise for its approach to reading and personal development.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “ambitious and well sequenced from Reception to Year 6,” ensuring consistent progression.
• Reading is a high priority; staff deliver the phonics scheme effectively, resulting in “most [pupils] [being] fluent readers by the end of Year 1.”
• Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is “effective,” with early identification and skilled support enabling access to the same curriculum.
• Pupils develop strong personal qualities, showing “tolerance of differences” and understanding that “discrimination of any kind is wrong.”
• Staff feel “well supported by leaders,” who are “considerate of their workload and well-being.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure regular opportunities for pupils to revisit previous learning across all subjects, as this is “not fully realised” in a few areas, affecting knowledge recall.
• Assessment processes need to be embedded in subjects where the curriculum is newly implemented, so teachers can accurately identify gaps in learning.
• Leaders must continue narrowing knowledge and skills gaps in English for key stage 2 pupils, whose attainment has been “below the national average” since the previous inspection.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with comprehensive staff checks and a culture where leaders are “quick to spot changes that might be indicative of a concern.”