St George's CofE Academy, Clun

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 September 2022

Pupils thrive at St George's C of E Academy. They feel safe, and they very much enjoy life at school. Staff care for them as individuals. Pupils like reading, and they read widely. The school is very much part of the local community. Parents and carers share their children's enthusiasm for the education provided. Leaders have high expectations for staff and pupils alike. They have given careful consideration to every aspect of the school. Leaders have planned a broad and ambitious curriculum, identifying clearly what pupils should know at each stage. From Nursery onwards, staff focus on developing pupils' independence. Staff identify any additional needs promptly. Pupils are kind to each other and polite to adults. They dress smartly and behave well in lessons. At social times, there is a wide range of outdoor equipment, and pupils play happily. They have positive attitudes towards their work. Pupils have opportunities to take responsibility, for example as school councillors or digital leaders. Bullying is very rare, and staff resolve any disagreements quickly. Visits to places of interest, such as the Thinktank museum in Birmingham, add to pupils' enjoyment and understanding of the curriculum. Pupils take part in a variety of after- school clubs.

What the school should improve

• Teachers sometimes do not make sure that pupils have grasped all the necessary knowledge they need before moving on to the next topic or activity. In these circumstances, pupils do not remember everything they need to be in the best position for their future learning. Teachers should make every effort to ensure that pupils have learned and can recall the essential learning that they will need to make sense of what comes next.
• To date, when evaluating how effectively staff are implementing the curriculum, leaders have placed an emphasis on the core subjects, geography, history, and religious education. Other subjects have received less attention. As the capacity for subject leadership grows, senior leaders should extend their monitoring and evaluation to the whole curriculum, drawing on the strengths of other schools in the trust as appropriate.

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