Greengate Lane Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders, including governors, are highly ambitious and have a clear vision for the school. Through accurate monitoring, they are well informed about the strengths and weaknesses in the school and aspire to secure the best possible outcomes for all pupils.

The quality of teaching is strong. Teachers know their pupils well and have high expectations of them. As a result, most pupils are challenged well and so they are focused and work hard.

Pupils make good progress from their starting points to reach expected standards. However, not enough pupils, including the most able pupils, make accelerated progress to reach the higher standards at th...e end of Year 6, including in mathematics and writing. Children in the early years get off to a flying start.

They benefit from warm relationships with staff and interesting, varied activities. They make very good progress from their individual starting points Pupils enjoy learning and attend well. They value the friendly and inclusive ethos in the school.

Pupils play well together and work cooperatively in lessons. The curriculum provides pupils with a wide range of opportunities to extend their learning beyond the classroom. Pupils behave well.

They are polite and respectful to each other and adults and feel safe in school. Disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities make good progress because of the effective support that they receive. Most teachers plan learning that meets the needs of pupils.

However, the level of challenge for the most able pupils is inconsistent and, as a result, these pupils do not learn as effectively as they could. The school receives effective support from Astrea Academy Trust. This has helped to drive rapid improvement.

Information about this school

Greengate Lane Academy is part of Astrea Academy Trust. The school joined the trust in September 2016. The work of the trust is overseen by a board of trustees.

Some responsibilities are delegated to the transition management board. The trust is responsible for 18 primary schools, six secondary schools and one special school. Since joining the trust, there have been changes to staffing and leadership.

The previous headteacher left the school in 2016 and the governing body was replaced with a transition management board. The current principal was appointed in October 2017. Two new teachers joined the school in 2018, including one newly qualified teacher.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils supported by the pupil premium is well above the national average. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is above the national average. The proportion of pupils in school who have an education, health and care plan is below the national average.

Astrea Academy Trust provides a range of support to continuously develop school leadership and the quality of teaching, learning and assessment. For example, an executive principal worked with school leaders in 2017 to provide targeted support. School leaders, including the assistant principals and the leader for mathematics, provide support to other schools in the trust as part of the trust's model of sharing good practice.