Christ Church CE Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 20 January 2026

Christ Church CE Academy is a happy, safe and inclusive haven. Pupils are supported effectively by deeply committed and caring staff. They are nurtured from their first days in school and this helps them feel like they belong. There are ambitious expectations for pupils here. A high proportion of pupils face additional barriers to learning and wellbeing, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. There is effective support in place to address these barriers. However, pupils do not achieve as well as they could, including in national curriculum tests. Leaders know what aspects of the school's work need to improve to support pupils' achievement and they have taken appropriate action. Pupils behave well. They enjoy school, attend well and have impeccable manners. For example, they are friendly to visitors, hold doors open for each other and talk to their teachers respectfully. Clear routines are well-embedded from the early years. This ensures that the school is calm, safe and orderly. Pupils are hardworking. They are positive about the clubs they can join and the trips that the school organises for them to help them learn. At social times, pupils mix well and play co-operatively. Bullying is very rare. If it happens, pupils trust that their teachers will resolve issues quickly. The school prioritises pupils' personal development and wellbeing, starting in the early years. Pupils benefit from outdoor learning and completing the school's 'Junior Dukes Award', where they are supported to develop communication, teamwork, risk assessment and life skills. The 'personal development passport' ensures that pupils experience a wide range of opportunities to develop socially, culturally and spiritually. For example, they visit places of worship to reflect on different faiths, are encouraged to perform at a local theatre and take leadership responsibilities to help around school.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that the curriculum for writing and communication is embedded so that it supports pupils to achieve consistently well in the quality of their written and spoken communication. • Leaders should ensure that teaching consistently and quickly identifies and addresses the misconceptions and gaps in pupils' knowledge so that they learn the curriculum more securely and achieve well.

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