The Howard Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school All leaders, including directors, ensure that there are high aspirations for every pupil. The Small Schools Multi Academy Trust provides highly effective support to the school.

The three schools within the multi-academy trust work closely together to share good practice. This benefits all pupils. Governance is effective.

Directors carefully evaluate the school's development and are well informed about pupils' progress. They hold leaders firmly to account. As a result of strong teaching, the majority of pupils in this small school are making good progress in all subjects and developing as successful learners.

Children make a good ...start in the early years and settle into school quickly. The overwhelming majority of parents and carers appreciate the friendly and approachable staff. They particularly value the care and attention shown by the headteacher for their children's well-being and learning.

Pupils' behaviour and attendance are good. They are motivated to learn, take pride in their work and are happy to come to school. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is strong.

Pupils are kind and considerate to each other and show respect for each other's differences. Leaders make good use of additional funds for disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities by providing extra well-trained support staff. Safeguarding is effective.

All staff and governors have received the latest training. Pupils say that they feel safe at the school. The work that teachers set in mathematics does not consistently challenge pupils to make the progress of which they are capable.

This is particularly the case for the most able pupils. The good teaching promotes reading skills well, inspiring pupils with a love of reading. Leaders recognise that pupils' spelling skills are weaker than their reading skills and other aspects of their writing.

Leaders accept that more consistent strategies are needed to improve spelling.

Information about this school

The Howard Primary School converted to become an academy on 1 August 2015. When its predecessor school, Howard Primary School, was last inspected by Ofsted it was judged to be good.

The Howard Primary School is much smaller than the average primary school. The school joined the Small Schools Multi Academy Trust in August 2015. An executive headteacher works across the three schools within the trust.

These schools are in close proximity to each other and work closely together. The headteacher has been in post since February 2018. The proportion of pupils supported by pupil premium funding is lower than average.

The vast majority of pupils are White British. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is a little above average. The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care provision.