Essa Primary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 5 November 2024

Pupils have positive relationships with their teachers and staff, which they value. Pupils are respectful towards each other. They enjoy learning about the diverse world around them. For example, they enthusiastically told inspectors about the different cultures and backgrounds of others they learn about in their lessons and through the books that they read. The school has raised its ambitions for what pupils should learn and achieve. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Many pupils, including children in the early years, now achieve well across most curriculum subjects. Pupils rise to the school's high expectations for behaviour. Pupils conduct themselves sensibly and get along with each other well. Fall outs are rare. Pupils are happy and safe at this school. Pupils have increasingly benefited from the refreshed extra-curricular clubs available to them. More pupils are starting to join these clubs, which range from sports clubs to sewing and art club. Older pupils appreciate the opportunity that they now have to experience a residential visit. Pupil councillors are proud of their roles, while other pupils had recently commenced their training to become play leaders.

What the school should improve

• In a small number of subjects, the school does not design effective learning activities that take account of what pupils currently know and remember. At times, this means that pupils do not address some gaps in their knowledge and do not develop a secure understanding of some new learning. The school should complete its curriculum redevelopment work and provide staff with robust guidance on how best to deliver its curriculum content in these subjects.
• At times, the school does not provide effective support to some pupils with additional needs, such as pupils with SEND and those who speak English as an additional language. This sometimes means that these pupils do not access their learning as effectively as they otherwise could. The school should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to cater for the different additional needs of these pupils so that they can achieve the best possible outcomes.
• In some subjects, the school is still developing its subject leadership capacity and curriculum oversight. This means that the school does not address some issues with the delivery of some subjects as quickly as it could. The school should ensure that subject leaders have the expertise needed to oversee their subjects consistently well.

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