Abbeyfield Primary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 October 2024

Abbeyfield Primary Academy is a school where pupils are placed at the heart of everything. Staff care deeply for the pupils. Strong and positive relationships ensure that pupils feel happy and safe at school. The school's values of 'respectful, ambitious, happy and safe' can be seen in the behaviour of pupils and adults alike. Pupils know that they can rely on trusted adults to care for them and keep them safe. The school has high expectations for pupils' behaviour and achievements. These expectations are reflected in pupils' conduct, attitudes to learning and in the work that they produce. Pupils are courteous and polite. They show positive attitudes in lessons and are eager to learn. At less structured times, they play positively and cooperatively. The school is welcoming to all pupils. Difference and diversity are celebrated. Pupils, particularly those who are disadvantaged, benefit from the extensive range of extra- curricular activities that the school provides. These are offered without cost. Older pupils benefit from the responsibility of being a school prefect. Some act as 'peer mediators', supporting younger pupils and helping them to resolve conflicts. Pupils are proud of how welcoming they are of those that arrive new to the school.

What the school should improve

• In the early years, some interactions between adults and children lack focus. This means that children do not make as much progress as they could in developing their communication and language. The school should ensure that staff have a clear understanding of the expected learning for activities, so that interactions are consistently effective in developing children's communication and language.
• The attendance and punctuality of some pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, are too low. This means that these pupils miss too much of their education. The school should ensure that it continues its work to improve the attendance of pupils, including those who are disadvantaged.
• Assessment strategies in some subjects do not identify gaps in pupils' learning precisely enough to inform future teaching. This means that, sometimes, pupils' learning does not build on what they already know. The school should continue to refine the assessment processes in these subjects so that gaps in pupils' learning can be addressed with increasing precision.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)