Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Rudham CofE Primary Academy on 27 March 2019, following its previous judgment of good in May 2014. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team has effectively addressed previous challenges, including staff turnover, which had impacted pupil progress. The teaching quality has improved significantly, and the school has benefited from regular training provided by the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academy Trust. This support has included rigorous checks on teachers' assessments to ensure accuracy.
Parents and carers generally express satisfaction with the school, with many recommending it. They believe their children are making good progress and feel safe and happy at school. However, some concerns were raised regarding teacher turnover and the executive headteacher's responsibilities across multiple schools. The development of leadership roles within the federation has helped strengthen leadership capacity.
Safeguarding measures at the school are robust, ensuring a safe learning environment for pupils. Leaders and staff are well-trained in safeguarding practices, and the school actively promotes pupils' physical and mental well-being. The trust regularly reviews the school's safeguarding arrangements, ensuring compliance and effectiveness.
The inspection focused on several key areas, including the performance of pupils in national tests. The results from 2018 showed that while the proportion of pupils reaching expected levels was above the national average, the number achieving greater depth was below. Leaders have taken steps to ensure that the most able pupils are appropriately challenged. In mathematics, previous weaknesses have been addressed through targeted training and resources, leading to improved pupil performance. The school has implemented effective monitoring of teaching and pupil work, resulting in nearly all pupils making progress in line with expectations.
The curriculum at Rudham CofE Primary Academy is broad and engaging, with pupils enjoying a variety of subjects. Leaders have established assessment methods that focus on subject-specific progress rather than just skills coverage. However, there is still work to be done in organizing the curriculum to build knowledge sequentially across subjects. The teaching of French has been identified as an area needing improvement due to inconsistent scheduling.
Pupils have opportunities for enriching experiences through trips and visits, which enhance their learning. The school has a strong focus on phonics teaching, particularly in the early years and key stage one, with progress being closely monitored. The school was recognized for its accurate assessment during early years moderation in 2018.
Moving forward, leaders are encouraged to ensure that the current effective teaching addresses past inconsistencies in pupil experiences and to further develop the curriculum to enhance knowledge acquisition in each subject. The inspection findings indicate that while the school is performing well, there are areas for continued growth and improvement to maximize pupil learning outcomes. The letter detailing these findings will be published on the Ofsted website, ensuring transparency and accountability.
