Howard Community Academy glowing Ofsted report

Howard Community Academy has received a glowing Ofsted report, marking a remarkable journey of progress since its ‘Requires improvement’ judgment two years ago.

After an Ofsted inspection on 1 and 2 July 2025, Howard Community Academy has been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating in ‘Personal Development’ as well as ‘Good’ in all other areas.

This achievement reflects the school’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals, where “the development of the whole child is firmly at its heart.” Named a “happy” school that pupils “enjoy” attending, the school has made significant progress since the ‘Requires Improvement’ report issued by Ofsted in 2023.

According to the report, Howard Community Academy is a school where “classroom learning comes to life with visits to local farms, museums and events such as experiencing life in First World War.” These “creative experiences make learning memorable.”

Alison Weir, Headteacher at Howard Community Academy, expressed her pride: “We are absolutely delighted that Ofsted has acknowledged the progress we have made whilst sharing such wonderful feedback. Our aim is to support every child in becoming more than they ever thought they could be. It is incredibly rewarding that this vision has been recognised so wholeheartedly in the report.

“This achievement is owed to the tireless efforts of our dedicated colleagues, the support of our parents, and the inspiring progress of our pupils. We look forward to continuing our hard work to build upon this brilliant achievement, ensuring every child receives the very best education and support in an inclusive and safe environment.”

Today’s educational landscape shows us that a whole-child approach is fundamental to pupils learning effectively. At Howard Community Academy, the holistic development of pupils is “exemplary.” Inspectors applauded the school for placing “pupils’ well-being at the heart of the school’s personal development programme.” They added: “The development of the whole child is firmly at its heart.”

The primary school was complimented on its positive school culture and ethos, which pupils “are eager” to contribute to. They show dedication to its core values and each work hard to “win the headteacher’s award for embodying the school’s values of ‘nurture, community, experience and aspiration.”

Pupils are “keen to rise to the high expectations set by staff.” Their positive attitudes were highlighted, with the report noting how pupils “behave well and follow the school’s principles of ‘calm, safe, respect’.”

The report draws on the enriched and creative curriculum, describing it as “ambitious for all pupils” with each area “coherently planned.” According to inspectors, there is “high expectations of content and progression of knowledge and skills” as well as “a strong creative focus on making pupils’ learning exciting.’”

As conversations around the essential skills needed for young people continue to evolve, there is a clear understanding that nurturing creative thinking is key to preparing pupils for the future. Howard Community Academy’s approach to integrating creativity into learning was recently featured in a new playbook launched by Anglian Learning, showcasing the transformative power that this has.

A key strategy explored by the school involves using sentence stems to encourage wondering and creative questioning. This engaging methodology clearly resonates with pupils, as Ofsted noted, “pupils are proud of their work and say that teachers make learning fun,” which results in them achieving well.

The inspection specifically lauded Howard Community Academy’s inclusion and support for all learners, stating that “pupils with SEND thrive.” This is a result of the school’s tailored support systems that empower all pupils to reach their full potential: “Staff are well trained to understand how to meet pupils’ needs. This means that pupils with SEND complete the same learning as their peers.”

Alison continued: “Our teachers and support staff are well-deserving of all Ofsted’s praise, making sure that every pupil gets to enjoy rich experiences, whether it’s collaborations with the arts council or singing in a local care home. This commitment “extends their talents and interests”, and I am overjoyed that it was highlighted throughout the report.”

Teaching at Howard Community Academy is consistently high-quality, with staff demonstrating “strong subject knowledge”. Leaders were also commended for their robust support, ensuring staff receive excellent training and opportunities for development whilst always “considering their workload and wellbeing.”

Both Trust and school leaders were praised for their “strong oversight of the school, providing appropriate level of challenge and support,” which has been instrumental.

Rachael Johnston, Director of Primary Education at Anglian Learning, said: “We are all very proud of Howard Community Academy’s journey. Achieving an ‘Outstanding’ in ‘Personal Development’ is particularly gratifying, as it speaks directly to both the school’s and our wider Anglian Learning vision to provide an inclusive education where all pupils feel they belong. “

“This glowing report is a prime example of how a commitment to a creative curriculum and the power of the arts can empower all pupils. A huge well done and thank you to every member of staff and the community for this success. By transforming together, we are seeing real change and providing well-rounded opportunities that develop the whole child.”

The full report can be found on Ofsted’s website: Howard Community Academy – Open – Find an Inspection Report – Ofsted.