George Grenville Academy

Inspection of a good school: George Grenville Academy Chandos Road, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire MK18 1AP

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Outcome

George Grenville Academy continues to be a good school.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy and feel safe. This is seen around the school, in lessons and at breaktimes. Pupils care for and look after each other. Leaders are determined that pupils show kindness around the school, working together to fill ‘kindness buckets’. Pupils know the school’s values and understand the meaning of respect, saying everyone is welcome at their school.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have high expectations of how pupils should conduct themselves in school. Pupils are engaged in their learning and say that lessons are fun. This starts in the early years, where pupils have access to a wide range of learning activities, both inside and outside of the classroom. Playtimes are well structured, and pupils across the school play well together. Bullying is rare. Pupils say it is not accepted and that if it did happen, staff would deal with it quickly. Leaders give pupils the tools to manage conflict and any friendship fallouts, making playtimes a positive experience.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders value the personal development of pupils and offer a wide range of clubs and activities to take part in. Pupils love the school trips and speak fondly of the key stage 2 production that takes place at a local theatre.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders are ambitious to ensure that their curriculum is the best it can be. Leaders are designing a curriculum that is relevant for their school and local area. For example, they ensure that local, well-known artists form part of their artist studies in art. In early years, local area walks are built into the curriculum throughout the year. Additionally, links are made with local groups and people to ensure that pupils have a wider understanding of their community. 28 and 29 March 2023

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Leaders have sequenced and mapped their curriculum well. In some subjects, including art, the work is new or is in the process of being completed. In these subjects, some of the knowledge pupils are learning has not yet been fully remembered.

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This is an inclusive school, and leaders want all pupils to thrive. Early support and identification of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) allows effective support in the classroom. Adaptations are appropriately made to lessons for pupils with SEND.

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Leaders are determined to develop a love of reading among the pupils. This is realised in many ways, such as through trips to the local bookshops, links with the university, sticker charts and fundraising for their book corners. There are books everywhere, from Nursery through to Year 6. Leaders have implemented a consistent phonics scheme across the school and have acted quickly to identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge. Catch-up sessions are available for those pupils who are at risk of falling behind. Staff are well trained to deliver the scheme and ensure that pupils’ books are accurately matched to the sounds they are learning, allowing pupils to read with accuracy. Pupils in early years are immersed in books from the start of their school life.

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Pupils love learning. In lessons, they are fully involved in learning. There is a high degree of concentration and calmness. Pupils say they are able to work uninterrupted. During lessons, pupils can use a range of resources to help them work independently. Additional tasks are also given to ensure pupils are challenged in their thinking.

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Leaders ensure there is an understanding of difference and diversity, which is celebrated. Pupils know and accept a range of differences found in modern Britain. Pupils also have a broad understanding of healthy lifestyles and keeping safe. They understand the links between healthy diet and exercise. Pupils say they have a voice in the school and that adults listen to them. Older pupils are proud of their additional roles and responsibilities, such as play leaders and house captains.

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Leaders ensure that staff have access to a range of training and development. Training allows staff to feel confident in delivering the curriculum. Staff are also given strategies to support pupils with SEND in the classroom. Leaders, including those responsible for governance, are aware of staff well-being and workload and ensure that staff are supported in their roles. Leaders are aware that persistent absenteeism remains too high. Leaders are working to ensure that those pupils who miss school regularly are helped to improve their attendance.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is a strong safeguarding culture across the school. Leaders ensure that staff are trained to know the signs that suggest a child may need help or support. Records are detailed, and leaders act quickly on information given to them, escalating concerns when needed. Minutes of meetings are robust. 28 and 29 March 2023

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The trust and local governing board assure themselves that safeguarding is effective, with commissioned audits and regular visits to speak with the designated safeguarding leads and staff.

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Pupils learn about keeping themselves safe. This includes risks to them in daily life, such as playing on ice, but also how to keep safe online. Pupils know there is a trusted adult they can speak to if they have a concern or worry.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 Recent changes to the curriculum development for some subjects are still new, and therefore the full impact on what pupils are learning and remembering is not yet evident. Leaders should continue to implement their ambitious curriculum plans in their entirety and monitor their impact over time.  Persistent absence remains too high. The pupils who are persistently absent are not fully benefiting from all the school has to offer. Leaders should continue to explore what additional strategies and support, both within and external to the school, these families need to further improve attendance.

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Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act. Usually, this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

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Background

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good on 17 and 18 January 2018.

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How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school. 28 and 29 March 2023

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 28 and 29 March 2023

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School details

Inspection number 10256528 Type of school Primary

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School details

Date of previous inspection 17 and 18 January 2018, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school is part of the Campfire Trust, which is made up of six primary schools.  The school does not currently use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspector held meetings with the headteacher, two assistant headteachers, special educational needs coordinator, subject leaders, teachers, governors, CEO of the trust and the trust board.  The inspector carried out deep dives in early reading, mathematics and art. During the deep dives, the inspector spoke with leaders, visited lessons, looked at examples of pupils’ work and spoke with pupils.  The inspector looked at a range of documents, including school improvement plans and minutes of governor meetings. 28 and 29 March 2023

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 The inspector considered the responses from parents, pupils and staff to surveys issued at the time of the inspection.

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Inspection team

Simon Woodbridge, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector 28 and 29 March 2023

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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