Bluecoat Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The principal, supported by a capable team of senior and middle leaders, provides the school with high-quality leadership. Leaders have secured improvements in different areas of the school's effectiveness and continuously strive to improve them further. Senior leaders have an accurate view of the school's strengths and areas for development.

Action taken to improve areas of the school that fall below the high standards they set is effective. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and understanding of British values are at the heart of the school's work. The quality of teaching, learning, and assessment, overall, is good.
...r/>At times, teaching is highly effective. Some teaching, however, does not consistently make use of the most effective teaching approaches. Pupils' progress is typically good in a range of subjects, including English and mathematics.

However, some groups of pupils do not make the same rapid progress as other pupils. This is especially true for the boys and for the most able pupils. The progress of disadvantaged pupils is typically good.

Their progress matched the national average for all pupils in 2017. Leaders provide pupils who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities with valuable support. This is also true for pupils who attend the special resource provision.

These groups of pupils make good progress over time. Leaders have established effective practices to help pupils keep safe. Pupils are cared for well.

They show respect and consideration towards adults and each other. Pupils' behaviour and conduct are typically good. Some pupils' behaviour is exemplary.

A few pupils, however, do not engage in their learning well enough. Pupils' attendance is above average. This is equally true for all groups of pupils.

The school's curriculum is broad and balanced. It encourages pupils to strengthen their knowledge about different subjects and to develop new skills. Students make good progress in all qualifications in the sixth form.

In the past, their overall progress has been well above average. The academy trust provides a high level of challenge and support. The local governing body is at an early stage of its development.

Information about this school

In February 2012, the Nottingham Bluecoat Science and Technology College converted to become an academy. When Ofsted last inspected that school, in March 2011, it was judged 'good' overall. In 2014, Bluecoat Academy became a multi-academy trust.

The school then joined with one of its other secondary schools and introduced a primary school to form an all-through three to 19 school under a new registration number. This school was still called the Bluecoat Academy. In October 2017, the three combined schools were re-structured into individual schools.

The founding school retained the registration number, but is now named Bluecoat Aspley Academy. Bluecoat Aspley Academy also has a sixth form registered as part of its provision. Bluecoat Academies Trust changed its name to Archway Learning Trust in 2017.

Bluecoat Aspley Academy is larger than the average-sized secondary school. There are currently four secondary schools and one primary school within this multi-academy trust. The trustees have overall responsibility for the governance of the school.

The trust delegates some of its functions to the local governing body. The school is also part of the George Spencer Teaching Alliance. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is well above average.

A quarter of the pupils are White British and another quarter are Asian or Asian British Pakistani. The rest come from a wide range of minority ethnic groups. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is well above average.

The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is well above average. The proportion of pupils who have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is average. The school operates a specialist-resource provision for pupils who have autism spectrum disorder.

Currently, six pupils, from different years, attend the provision. All these pupils have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan. A few pupils are taught in an alternative setting known as 'Aspire'.

This is part of the academy trust. Occasionally, pupils attend the CP Riverside School, which is provided by the local authority. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Year 11.

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