John Locke Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Rightly, parents, pupils and staff are extremely proud of their school. Central to the school's success is the highly effective leadership of the principal and vice principal.

Senior leaders have created a thriving learning environment superbly well, where pupils flourish and are at the heart of everything that happens. From the moment they start school, children in the early years are immersed in exciting learning opportunities. Children develop a genuine love of learning and make excellent progress in readiness for the move to Year 1.

Pupils achieve highly in reading, writing and mathematics. From different starting points, pupi...ls make rapid and sustained progress. Disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities are exceptionally well supported to excel.

Pupils soak up the many opportunities to write for a purpose. Their writing is impressive across a range of curriculum subjects. However, some of the strategies to improve pupils' spelling are not fully embedded.

Attendance is above the national average. Pupils love coming to school because teachers make learning irresistible. The excitement for learning is tangible among staff and pupils.

Governors and representatives from the trust use their skills, knowledge and expertise extremely well to support and challenge school leaders. Together, governors and leaders continually reflect on all aspects of the school's work to ensure that standards are of the highest quality. Leaders, including governors and the trust, are clear about the importance of building on the excellent start the school has made as it moves into its next stage of development.

They acknowledge the need to support new middle leaders in maintaining the high standards already achieved. Leaders work very closely with teachers to plan learning that challenges pupils to think deeply and ask questions. The quality of teaching is consistently high.

In all classrooms, pupils show extremely high levels of confidence, motivation and self-esteem. Teachers provide an abundance of practical activities that develop pupils' skills in a wide range of subjects. From a young age, pupils have a superb understanding of the importance of perseverance and resilience in their learning.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. In lessons and social times, pupils are polite, respectful and show great kindness towards others.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.

The school complies with Department for Education guidance on what academies should publish. John Locke Academy opened as a new academy in September 2014. It is part of The Elliot Foundation Academy Trust, a multi-academy trust.

The principal and vice principal have been in post since the school opened. There are currently three forms of entry in the Reception Year, three classes in Year 1 and two classes in Year 2. When the school reaches full capacity in September 2020, there will be three classes in each year group to Year 6.

Nursery children attend either in the morning or the afternoon on a part-time basis. Children in the Reception classes attend on a full-time basis. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is above the national average.

The majority of pupils speak English as their first language. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is average. The number of pupils eligible for free school meals is lower than average.

Also at this postcode