St Newlyn East Learning Academy

Inspection of a school judged good for overall effectiveness before September 2024: St Newlyn East Learning Academy Station Road, St Newlyn East, Newquay, Cornwall TR8 5ND

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Inspection dates: 19 and 20 November 2024

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Outcome

St Newlyn East Learning Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.

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Outcome

The headteacher of this school is Rachael Hatch. This school is part of Kernow Learning Multi Academy Trust, which means other people in the trust also have responsibility for running the school. The trust is run by the chief executive officer, Clare Crowle, and overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by David Parker.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils at St Newlyn East enjoy school. They get on well with each other and with the adults who support them. They are friendly and polite. Pupils and most parents recognise the caring environment and the commitment of staff to ensure that pupils thrive. Pupils know how to keep themselves safe.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Typically, pupils are kind to each other and play well together. When this is not the case, adults are usually good at resolving differences. Pupils are sensitive to one another’s needs and look out for each other. Pupils show positive attitudes to learning. They behave well and listen to each other and adults attentively.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school has high expectations for pupils and in many areas, including mathematics and reading, these expectations are being reached. In a few subjects, some pupils are not gaining the depth of knowledge they need to reach the highest standards.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils experience a broad education. This is enhanced by clubs such as gardening, and the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. They participate in ‘Fun Fit’ sessions to get ready for the school day and enjoy trips to the zoo and theatre. They attend many residential camps. 19 and 20 November 2024

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

The school’s curriculum is well designed and staff use their strong knowledge to implement the curriculum effectively in most subjects. Children in the early years get off to a flying start. They benefit from high-quality phonics teaching, which results in children becoming strong readers. Teaching staff check carefully that younger pupils are fully confident in their sounds and, as a result, very few fall behind. This is supported by a positive culture of reading. The class and school libraries are well stocked. Pupils are keen to choose books that interest them and are also guided to some by adults so that they are suitably challenged. As a result, most pupils love reading and are fluent readers.

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

In mathematics, younger pupils gain a strong understanding of number and how to perform calculations. This prepares them well for key stage 2. On occasion, the school’s expectations of the quality of pupils’ writing is not consistently high across the curriculum. The school has an agreed approach to teaching writing. However, there is not a sufficient focus on the accurate use of grammar or precision in pupils’ spelling. This means some pupils are not reaching the high standards that they are capable of.

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

The school is swift to identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Almost all pupils have their needs met well in whole-class teaching, due to the resources that are used and the support that staff give them. However, this is less well developed for a few pupils with speech, language and communication needs.

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

Pupils’ attendance is high. Staff work well with families to make sure that absences are avoided. Nonetheless, some pupils’ attendance is negatively affected by going on holiday during school time. The school works hard to ensure that pupils catch up on their return.

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

Pupils benefit from a wide range of activities that ensure they are well prepared for life beyond the school. ‘Beach school’ is a firm favourite and, through working with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, pupils know how to keep themselves safe when they are at the coast, as well as understanding why and how to protect the environment. Visiting speakers and trips ensure that pupils learn about a range of religions and different cultures.

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

The recently appointed headteacher has quickly established positive relationships with the staff team and parents. Teaching staff appreciate the thoughtfulness of trust and school leaders. Revised assessment arrangements and streamlined processes make sure that teachers and leaders have the time they need to carry out their roles. Staff are proud to work at St Newlyn East.

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

Trustees and local governors have an accurate view of the school’s strengths and weaknesses. This ensures they are well informed to make the necessary strategic decisions. There are effective arrangements in place to hold school leaders to account. The school makes purposeful use of the trust’s training programmes and benefits from working with other schools in the trust. This ensures that staff have the skills and knowledge they need to continue to improve. 19 and 20 November 2024

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 The school’s clear expectations of the quality of pupils’ writing, including the accurate use of grammar and spelling, is not consistently implemented across the school. Consequently, some pupils are not reaching the standards they are capable of. The trust should ensure that teaching enables pupils to write well, with accuracy and precision, across the curriculum.

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Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted’s website. From September 2024 graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade. This school was, before September 2024, judged to be good for its overall effectiveness.

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Background

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. 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’s work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection 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 for overall effectiveness in February 2019.

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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. 19 and 20 November 2024

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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’ is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school’s pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 19 and 20 November 2024

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School details

Website www.stnewlyneast.kernowlearning.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous inspection 12 and 13 February 2019, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school is part of Kernow Learning, a multi-academy trust of 21 primary schools.  The headteacher has been in post since September 2024.  The school does not make use of any providers of alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspector met with the headteacher, assistant headteachers and teachers. The inspector also met with the deputy chief executive officer, the chair of the trust board, four local governors and some parents. 19 and 20 November 2024

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 The inspector visited a sample of lessons, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  The inspector observed informal times of the day as part of their evaluation of safeguarding and pupils’ behaviour and to gather information about school life.  The inspector considered responses to Ofsted Parent View, including the free-text comments. The inspector also considered the responses to Ofsted’s staff and pupil surveys.

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Inspection team

Iain Freeland, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector 19 and 20 November 2024

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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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