Ackworth Howard Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 May 2024

The Ackworth Howard vision is to provide opportunities for pupils to grow in mind, body and spirit. This vision is clearly evident throughout the school. The school community consistently lives out the school's Christian values of compassion, forgiveness, friendship and trust. Pupils are safe and happy. Pupils achieve well academically and they flourish in all aspects of their personal development. One parent described the school as a place that shapes 'really beautiful children who love to learn and have big world thinking'. From early years onwards, pupils are exceptionally well behaved and consistently show kindness towards their fellow pupils and school staff. They are courteous and extremely polite. They are helpful to adults and to each other. In class, they pay close attention to their teachers and participate diligently with their learning. Pupils say that bullying does not happen in their school. Inspectors agree with this view. Pupils are confident that any poor behaviour would be resolved quickly and sensitively. They are rightly proud of their school and the part they play in its success. The school is aspirational for pupils. Leaders have developed a rich, ambitious curriculum to inspire and engage pupils. Pupils say lessons are interesting and fun. Woven throughout the curriculum are experiences such as musical performances, sporting competitions and visits, such as a visit to Lindisfarne. These are designed to enrich pupils' life experience. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) study the same curriculum as their peers. They are fully included in the life of the school.

What the school should improve

• Across the wider curriculum, the school has not identified the essential knowledge it wants all pupils, including those with SEND, to know and remember. This means that teachers are not clear which knowledge is most important when planning Junior and Infant School 3 activities. Work is not as well matched to some pupils' needs as it could be. The school needs to identify the essential knowledge in all foundation subjects so that work can be tailored to meet pupils' needs, allowing them to purposefully build new learning on what they know and remember.

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