Spilsby Primary Academy, a member of Infinity Academies Trust, has earned commendation from Ofsted for being “a caring and inclusive school” where “pupils like their teachers and know that they can turn to staff for help should they ever need it.”
In December, Ofsted conducted a two-day inspection at Spilsby Primary Academy. During their visit, inspectors observed lessons and held discussions with school leaders, staff, pupils, and parents to gain a comprehensive understanding of the school’s performance.
Inspectors highlighted several significant achievements in their report:
“The school has recently brought about significant improvements to the curriculum, pupils’ behaviour and attendance. The school collaborates with the trust to identify areas for improvement. Together, they take effective action to enhance the quality of the school’s provision.”
Improvements Since the Last Inspection in 2018
This was Ofsted’s first visit to the school since 2018. In the interim, both the Ofsted framework and the evaluation criteria for schools have undergone substantial changes. While one-word ‘overall effectiveness’ judgements are no longer used, the Section 5 graded inspections assess schools across specific focus areas. Spilsby Primary Academy received a ‘good’ rating in four of the five key judgement areas:
- Behaviour and Attitudes
- Personal Development
- Leadership and Management
- Early Years Provision
Headteacher’s Response to the Ofsted Report
Matthew Nicholson, Headteacher of Spilsby Primary Academy, expressed pride in the school’s progress:
“We are incredibly proud of all the positive feedback that we received as part of our recent Ofsted inspection, in particular our drive to make improvements in a range of areas across the school and our relentless focus on providing the best possible start in life for all our children.”
Regarding the category of ‘quality of education,’ Mr Nicholson noted:
“While inspectors praised the progress that has been made in relation to the introduction of a newly refined curriculum, unfortunately, they felt that there was just not enough evidence of impact yet within the judgement area of ‘quality of education’ and so judged the school to ‘require improvement’ in this category.”
Recognition for Curriculum Enhancements
The Ofsted report acknowledged the strides made in curriculum development:
“The school knows what needs to improve and has already made some positive changes, including by refining the curriculum. In many subjects, pupils learn the school’s new, ambitious curriculum well. In these subjects, teachers work hard and use ideas from the training they receive to develop their practice.”
Infinity Academies Trust CEO Praises the School’s Efforts
Gavin Booth, CEO of Infinity Academies Trust, described the report as a testament to the school’s commitment to excellence:
“Overall, this is a hugely positive report, with many examples of the inspectors recognizing the great work that takes place here and the improvements we have been making. We also value inspectors’ feedback and take on board the action points as part of our ongoing commitment to making this school the very best it can be.”
Mr Booth extended gratitude to the school community:
“I’d like to use this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone across the school community – our staff who work tirelessly for the benefit of our wonderful children, and of course our academy champions, parents and carers – they are what make Spilsby Primary such a special place.”z