The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. Pupils at Thorpedene are very proud of their school. Their behaviour and attitudes to learning are good. Pupils enjoy coming to school due to the exciting experiences and opportunities the school offers. Pupils speak with enthusiasm about the range of interesting subjects they learn. One pupil said, ‘I really love coming to school as I love learning.’ The broad, rich and lively curriculum has a positive impact on pupils’ progress, ensuring that they learn well. Pupils feel valued and included in school life. They relish the leadership roles the school provides, such as being a digital leader, librarian or part of the school council. Senior leaders know their school well and have clear priorities for areas that require further improvement. They have ensured that their enthusiasm and high expectations are shared by all. Their determination and high aspirations ensure that all pupils at Thorpedene are well prepared for the next stage in their education. Staff are proud members of the school and agree that the school is well led. They particularly value the importance you place on their well-being. Professional development has been used to encourage, challenge and support teacher’s improvement. As a result, strong leadership has developed within the school. Parents are very positive about the school and the majority of parents would recommend it to others. This is confirmed in Parent View, Ofsted’s online questionnaire. Typical comments include: ‘Thorpedene has been an excellent choice for my daughter. She has absolutely flourished since she has been here,’ and ‘Their school motto of ‘caring, achieving, respecting with confidence’ is celebrated across the school.’ One parent also stated, ‘The teaching staff are incredible. They really do move mountains for our children.’ Since becoming part of Southend East Community Academy Trust in September 2016, the school has made effective use of the benefits this brings, along with the continued work with other local schools. For example, teachers have been able to share their good practice and complete shared checks on assessment across the schools, which has supported improvements in the quality of teaching and learning. Thorpedene has also led on projects, such as ‘school readiness’, which aims to ensure that children in the early years are well prepared to start school. The governing body has a range of skills and expertise. Governors fulfil their responsibilities well and have a secure knowledge of the school’s strengths and weaknesses. The previous inspection identified that more opportunities were needed for pupils to use their literacy skills. Pupils books show that they produce a wide range of types of writing across other curriculum subjects. Additional areas to improve were pupils’ progress in phonics and their accuracy in spelling. Due to the effective teaching in phonics and spelling, the proportion of pupils achieving the expected standard in the Year 1 phonics screening check is typically above the national average. Furthermore, in 2018, pupils’ attainment in spelling at the end of key stage 2 was in line with the national average. Safeguarding is effective. At Thorpedene, there is a very strong culture of keeping pupils safe. The school has a significant proportion of disadvantaged pupils who are supported through pupil premium funding. Some families face very challenging circumstances. As a result, leaders have afforded a dedicated inclusion team within school to support pupils and families. The team have relentlessly ensured that safeguarding is a priority of the school and all arrangements are fit for purpose. Leaders have a secure oversight of safeguarding throughout the school. All staff undertake relevant training to ensure that they take responsibility for keeping pupils safe. This communication and training ensures that all staff are up to date with legal requirements and, as a result, pupils at Thorpedene are well looked after. School safeguarding records are detailed and maintained well. Leaders persistently follow up concerns in a timely way and involve external agencies to provide appropriate advice and support. Parents appreciate the support, care and guidance that the team provide for their families. Parents report that staff ‘go above and beyond their duty of care’ and their ‘dedication towards maintaining a nurturing and welcoming environment for all pupils is something they should be extremely proud of’.