Sproatley Endowed Church of England Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 30 June 2026

This is a school at the heart of its village community, surrounded by beautiful grounds and open countryside. Pupils arrive each morning full of energy and ready to learn. The Christian ethos of kindness and respect is lived out in how pupils speak to one another and how staff care for them. Many pupils say they love coming to school, reflected in the comments of one child, who told inspectors 'I would not wish to go anywhere else'. Pupils feel safe, known and welcomed from the moment they step through the door. Pupils enjoy their learning and show enthusiasm in lessons. They concentrate well, ask thoughtful questions and take pride in their work. They explore the outdoors with curiosity during learning taking place outdoors and excitedly show visitors creatures they have found on the school field. Across the school, pupils make good progress from their starting points, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face other barriers to learning. Staff know these pupils well and adapt teaching so they can take part fully in lessons. Older pupils are well prepared for their next steps in secondary education. Pupils feel they belong. They form warm relationships with staff and each other and work together with kindness. They enjoy wider experiences such as forest school, tennis lessons, rugby, theatre club and visits to the local church. They actively support elderly residents in the village. These experiences help broaden pupils’ horizons and help them understand how to be positive members of the wider community. Pupils thrive because expectations are clear and staff support their development. They behave in an exemplary manner and show maturity beyond their years. They trust adults to deal with any concerns quickly. They grow into thoughtful, confident young people who enjoy school and feel proud to be part of their community.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is taught consistently well across all classes, so that pupils experience equally strong learning in every subject and year group.
• Leaders should make sure all staff receive the training they need to make highly effective choices about what to teach and how to teach it, and rigorously quality assure this so that practice improves over time.

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