Ofsted praises Doncaster primary where ‘polite and diligent’ pupils thrive

Intake Primary Academy, part of Astrea Academy Trust, has been praised by Ofsted inspectors for providing a positive and supportive environment where pupils are happy, enjoy learning and achieve well.

In an inspection in May, Ofsted said that the school is at a strong standard in five of the seven categories assessed and at the expected standard in the other two and highlighted that “pupils thrive in this safe and orderly environment”.

The report praises the behaviour and attitudes of pupils at Intake, saying they behave well because “they know it is the right thing to do”.

The children at Intake are “helpful, polite and diligent” and show positive attitudes to learning, engage well in their lessons and achieve well, inspectors say.

Ofsted was pleased to see that the school leadership team and governors have a “clear and ambitious” strategic direction for Intake and have an excellent understanding of the school’s strengths and priorities.

School leaders also demonstrated a “deep commitment to inclusion” that shapes daily practice across the school and provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is “well considered”.

The early years provision at the academy is described by Ofsted as a “nurturing environment”, with children getting off to a positive start in nursery and feeling “safe, happy and ready tolearn”.

The inspectors saw a strong sense of belonging throughout the school and positive relationships between pupils and staff, helping them to feel valued and included.

The report highlights how the school encourages all pupils to participate fully in school life through a wide range of clubs, sports, creative activities and even a recent trip to the cinema, boosting confidence and broadening their experiences.

The inspection at Intake was carried out in May under the new Ofsted framework, where schools are no longer given one-word judgements; they are now graded across a range of areas on a five-point scale from ‘exceptional’ to ‘urgent improvement’, with ‘expected standard’ being the new benchmark for high-performing schools.

Helen Broad, Principal of Intake Primary Academy, said: "We are very pleased with this strong Ofsted report and how it recognises the warm, inclusive and ambitious culture we have created for our pupils.

“We are incredibly proud that the inspectors saw how well our children embrace learning and support each other, describing them as ‘polite and diligent’.

“This outcome reflects the hard work of our staff, pupils, families and wider community and we would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support."