Setting

Mrs Elizabeth Bartholomew Headteacher Langer Primary Academy Langer Road Felixstowe Suffolk IP11 2HL

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Academy

Following my visit to your academy on 23 May 2014, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report the findings. Thank you for the help you gave me and for the time you made available to discuss the actions you are taking to improve the academy since the most recent section 5 inspection.

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Academy

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the academy was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in January 2014. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Academy

Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. The academy should take further action to:

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Academy

 develop the improvement plan by including more precise measures and indicating how academy leaders, including governors, will check progress in each of the areas identified for improvement

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Academy

 develop the role of the governing body in supporting and challenging academy leaders.

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Evidence

During the visit, I held meetings with you and the deputy headteacher. I also met with the Chair of the Governing Body and a regional director of the Academies Enterprise Trust. I spoke on the phone to the academy’s improvement adviser and I looked at pupils’ work in English and mathematics from across the academy, along Serco Inspections Colmore Plaza 20 Colmore Circus Queensway Birmingham B4 6AT T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T : 01216 799146 Direct email : clare.benson@serco.com with information about pupils’ progress. I evaluated the academy’s action plan and associated documents and you accompanied me on visits to all classes.

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Context

Since the previous inspection, one teacher has left the academy. There has been a change to the staffing structure and an internal candidate has been appointed to the post of deputy headteacher.

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Main findings

Since the previous inspection, you have continued the effective work you started after being appointed at the beginning of this academic year. You accepted the judgements from the inspection and have taken prompt action to address the areas identified for improvement. These actions have already produced results at the academy. For example, behaviour is now better, with pupils regularly demonstrating good attitudes to learning. Pupils’ attendance has also improved.

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Main findings

You have continued with your efforts to improve the quality of teaching. Inadequate teaching has been eradicated and a higher proportion of teaching is now good. You have provided opportunities for some teachers to observe good practice and, through developing links with a local Teaching School, you are looking to provide further opportunities for teachers to access relevant training.

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Main findings

Although overall achievement remains low, rates of progress are increasing in most year groups. This is because you are holding teachers to account, more effectively, for pupils’ achievement through regular pupil progress meetings. The academy is using assessment information more effectively to track pupils’ progress and plan more effectively to meet their needs. As a result pupils are receiving better advice on how to improve their work. Improved assessment procedures are also being used to identify pupils who need additional help.

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Main findings

The academy’s action plan correctly identifies the areas which are in need of improvement. Appropriate actions are planned but their intended impact on pupils’ outcomes is not clearly mapped out against specific milestones. This makes it difficult for senior leaders, including governors, to check whether these actions are working or if they need to be extended more widely.

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Main findings

The new governing body has only been in place since September 2013. All governors are currently receiving induction into their new role. Governors understand the issues faced by the academy and the challenges involved in improving pupils’ achievement. Governors are keen to develop an effective partnership with academy’s leaders and know that they need to quickly establish systems to provide appropriate levels of support and challenge. A review of governance has been carried out recently and will be used to help shape the way that the governing body operates. Ofsted may carry out further visits and, where necessary, provide further support and challenge to the academy until its next section 5 inspection.

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External support

The academy is making good use of support from the Academies Enterprise Trust. Regular visits are made to the academy to check on progress and consultants have also supported the academy in the development of mathematics and English teaching. Support has also been provided for special educational needs and links have been made with an outstanding academy, with a view to sharing and developing best practice.

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External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body, the Director of Children’s Services for Suffolk and the Academies Advisers Unit at the Department for Education.

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