Setting

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Scott Gaskins Principal Littleport and East Cambs Academy Camel Road Littleport Ely Cambridgeshire CB6 1EW

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Ofsted remote visit to Littleport and East Cambs Academy

Following my remote visit with Charlie Fordham, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 5 November 2020, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the visit’s findings. Thank you for the time you made available to discuss your actions since September 2020, when the government expected all schools to open fully to all pupils.

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Ofsted remote visit to Littleport and East Cambs Academy

This visit was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended) and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for visiting schools while routine inspections are temporarily suspended. Following changes to government guidance and the imposition of COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown restrictions, we made this visit remotely to reduce pressure on the school.

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Ofsted remote visit to Littleport and East Cambs Academy

Ofsted’s visits to schools during the autumn term are not inspections. We are not giving graded judgements. We did not undertake the usual range of inspection activities and were unable to check other sources of evidence, such as visits to lessons or looking at pupils’ work. The content of this letter gives an overview of our discussions about what has happened in your school this term.

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Ofsted remote visit to Littleport and East Cambs Academy

During the visit, we spoke to you, the senior leadership team and the senior leader responsible for safeguarding pupils. We did not speak to pupils.

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Context

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s education system is managing the return to full education for pupils following an extended break in formal schooling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Context

In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

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Context

 approximately 1,200 schools across all Ofsted grades (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate)  maintained schools, academies and free schools, special schools and centres of alternative provision, including those in cities, and coastal, town or rural communities.

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Context

The information from this visit will feed into Ofsted’s national reporting so that the insights can be shared with the government and the education sector. We did not find any significant concerns during the visit. In such a case, an inspection report would be published on our website and available to parents and carers.

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Context

We did not consider your response to COVID-19 during the spring and summer terms 2020, when the school was not open to all pupils.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 The school opened to all pupils on 9 September 2020, after a phased return. Pupils in Year 7 attended from 7 September 2020 and pupils in Year 10 returned from 8 September 2020. All pupils are expected to attend full time.  Pupils’ attendance is lower than it was at this time last year. All Year 10 pupils were requested to self-isolate for 14 days since the beginning of term. Leaders communicate regularly with families to reinforce the importance of attendance and to assure them that the COVID-19 safety measures are in place.  Leaders intend to return pupils to the usual curriculum in all subjects before summer 2021. You are using the COVID-19 catch-up funding to provide pupils with extra support to help them catch up.  Pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 are studying all their normal curriculum subjects. You have made modifications to the way you are teaching certain subjects such as science, music, physical education and textiles. Additional trips and

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

visits that would usually be offered have been deferred for the time being.  Pupils in Year 10 are studying all their examination courses. They attend a lunchtime club, which has external speakers who discuss different career choices.  Teachers are using various types of assessment to check if there are any gaps in pupils’ learning. Teachers are amending plans in all subjects to focus on the specific knowledge pupils require. Leaders are prioritising improving pupils’ reading skills and propose to offer literacy support for those who need it.  You have processes in place to deliver remote learning in all subjects. Pupils who are self-isolating can access work on the school’s website or through packs of work sent home. The remote education is intended to match closely to the learning offered to pupils in school.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

I am copying this letter to the chair of the board of trustees and the chief executive officer of The Active Learning Trust, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Cambridgeshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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