Crabbs Cross Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 September 2024

Pupils enjoy the time they spend together at this caring, happy school. They feel safe and are confident to speak to adults if they are worried about anything. The school promotes positive values, with pupils and adults treating one another with respect. Pupils study a broad range of subjects. They take part in many activities and tasks in lessons, which they find memorable. However, the school has not ensured that the curriculum is taught consistently well in all subjects. This means that pupils are not yet making the progress that the school expects. The school is typically calm and most pupils follow rules and routines well. However, pupils do not maintain their focus in lessons as well as the school expects. This means that too many pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), do not know and remember the things they should to be fully prepared for the next stage of their education. The school offers a range of clubs that extend beyond the academic curriculum. For example, pupils enjoy attending extra-curricular sports clubs. Pupils also benefit from a range of leadership opportunities such as Head Boy, which help prepare pupils for life in modern Britain.

What the school should improve

• There is variation in teacher expertise and subject knowledge. The tasks that pupils are asked to complete do not always focus sharply enough on teaching subject-specific knowledge. Leaders need to ensure that all teachers have strong subject knowledge across all areas of the curriculum.
• The school's approach to checking on what pupils know and remember lacks precision. Children are unable to recall much of their learning. Leaders should refine the school's approach to assessment so that staff better identify and address gaps in pupils' learning.
• Staff do not skilfully adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of pupils with SEND. This means that pupils with SEND do not access learning as well as they might. The school should ensure that adaptive teaching supports pupils with SEND to access the curriculum.
• There is inconsistency in how well staff address low-level disruptions in lessons. This means that some pupils are distracted from learning. The school should ensure that pupils' behaviour is managed consistently so that all pupils focus on learning.

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