Hunts Grove Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The executive headteacher is well respected and is ably supported by the acting head of school. They have ensured that pupils make good progress both academically and personally in a caring community. Leaders at all levels across the multi-academy trust demonstrate a strong capacity for further improvement.

Staff implement well-established safeguarding procedures to ensure that pupils are kept safe at school. Pupils behave well and share exceptionally supportive relationships with each other and with staff. They enjoy school and attend well.

Leaders check the quality of teaching effectively. Staff are beginning to share their expertise in... providing pupils with a stimulating curriculum. As a result, pupils benefit from effective teaching to sustain their good progress throughout their time in this school.

The current focus on raising the level of challenge presented to the pupils is having a positive impact, including on the good progress of the most able. However, it has not been implemented long enough to ensure that the most able pupils achieve greater depth in their learning. Pupils work hard and make good progress.

For example, they are able to write expressively and solve mathematical problems. However, there are weaknesses in forming letters and numbers correctly and developing handwriting and spelling skills. This constrains their ability to progress faster and learn more deeply.

The small proportion of pupils who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities achieve well. Staff liaise closely with parents and specialists to ensure that pupils receive effective pastoral and academic guidance. Disadvantaged pupils make good progress.

Their needs are supported effectively from an early age. Leaders use additional funds efficiently to include pupils in school activities and provide effective extra adult support and teaching. Pupils who are new to learning English benefit from specialist speech and language support.

Once settled, they make rapid gains, especially in developing their phonic understanding. Parents hold the school in high regard and welcome its very caring family atmosphere. Strong leadership and good teaching ensure that children make good progress during their time in the Reception class.

Information about this school

Hunts Grove Primary Academy opened as an academy free school in March 2015 and joined the Robinswood Multi-Academy Trust, which now consists of Robinswood, Waterwells, Moat and Hunts Grove Primary academies. Hunts Grove currently shares the Waterwells facilities and plans to move into its own purpose-built accommodation next year. Governance is undertaken at a multi-academy level by a trust board and at school level by members of an advisory board.

The executive headteacher provides leadership oversight for all schools in the multi- academy trust. Currently, day-to-day running of the school is supported in an acting head of school capacity by the head of school of Waterwells. A substantive head of school for Hunts Grove has now been appointed and will commence his duties at the school in September 2018.

Hunts Grove is well below average in size. The majority of pupils are from White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is below average.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is below average. Currently, there are four year groups in the school accommodated in three classes; children experience early years provision in a Reception class and there are separate Year 1 and combined Years 2 and 3 classes. The school provides its own breakfast club.

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