Waltham Holy Cross Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an inadequate school Leaders and governors have not demonstrated the capacity to improve pupils' outcomes, which are too low at key stage 2. In 2016 and 2017, pupils' progress in English and mathematics was well below average. Governors do not effectively hold school leaders to account for the quality of education pupils receive.

They do not challenge leaders well enough to raise pupils' achievement swiftly. Leaders' own monitoring of the quality of teaching, learning and assessment is not rigorous. They do not effectively hold teachers to account for the achievement of pupils.

Leaders do not check the accuracy of the information they hold about pupils...' achievement. As a result, some assessment information is overgenerous. This is particularly the case in key stage 1.

Middle leadership is not yet effective. Middle leaders do not check the progress of pupils well enough to ensure that they are making sufficient progress, particularly in mathematics. The quality of teaching and learning over time in key stages 1 and 2 is inadequate.

Expectations of pupils are often too low. The most able pupils are not provided with sufficient opportunities to excel and deepen their understanding. Leaders are unclear about the progress made by pupils who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities.

This is because : assessment information does not show the progress these pupils make from their different starting points. The quality of teaching, learning and assessment in the early years is too inconsistent. In their learning and play, children do not make the progress of which they are capable.

Leaders do not ensure that additional funding such as the pupil premium is used effectively to raise the achievement of disadvantaged pupils. The school has the following strengths The school provides well for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Pupils are polite and demonstrate an enthusiasm for learning.

They behave well.

Information about this school

In 2016, the school did not meet the current government floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' achievement at the end of key stage 2. The school does not meet requirements on the publication of information about the impact of pupil premium, and the PE and sport premium funding.

Waltham Holy Cross is larger than average. It has two Nursery classes and three classes for each year group. The large majority of pupils are White British.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for pupil premium funding is average. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is average. The previous inspection was carried out when the school was an infant school.

Since that time, it has amalgamated with the junior school and become a primary school. The current headteacher joined the school in January 2017. The school employs four newly qualified teachers.

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