Connor Downs Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 May 2024

Connor Downs Academy is a place where pupils shine. The motto 'open spaces, open hearts, open minds' threads through the school. Pupils learn in a calm, orderly and inclusive setting. They are respectful and take pleasure in helping one another. Pupils are rightly proud of their school and benefit from a wide range of experiences. As a result, they enjoy school and attend well. Staff are determined for pupils to learn well following an ambitious curriculum. This is achieved through high expectations that pupils rise to. They have a thirst for learning and take pride in their work. Pupils' wider development is a strength of the school. The school goes above and beyond to develop pupils as responsible, respectful and active citizens. 'Cultivating futures' is at the heart of the many opportunities provided by the school. This outdoor learning area encourages pupils to care for the environment. Pupils develop empathy through looking after rescued rabbits and chickens. They enjoy growing their own food from seed using recycled water to help them grow. Pupils learn about nature, including bird watching and pond dipping. They really value this space and time for reflection.

What the school should improve

• In a minority of the wider subjects, pupils do not get opportunities to revisit prior learning in order to consolidate important knowledge. Teachers are not clear how much pupils have remembered before moving on to new learning. Consequently, some pupils are not securing knowledge into their long-term memory. The trust should ensure that pupils revisit learning often with the precise use of assessment to enable pupils to build their knowledge securely.

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