Inspire Academy Review 2026: A reading-led primary with strong KS2 outcomes

A school dog called Robbie, a book vending machine, and a clear set of values built around Inspiring, Discovering, Caring, Improving and Achieving, point to a primary that takes culture seriously and wants pupils to enjoy learning, not just complete it. The reading strategy is unusually visible for a mainstream primary, with a published approach from Nursery upwards, and frequent home links to help families reinforce phonics and comprehension.

The latest Ofsted inspection (11 to 12 October 2023) judged the school Good across all areas, including early years.

On attainment, the 2024 Key Stage 2 picture is strong, especially on the combined reading, writing and maths measure. The school also looks competitive locally, with Reception admissions running at around 1.5 applications per place in the most recent admissions snapshot.

In a school serving local families across Ashton-under-Lyne, the tone is set by relationships and routines. External reviews describe a warm, welcoming environment built on strong, caring staff relationships, with clear rules and consistent expectations that help pupils manage emotions and behave well. That matters in daily life because it reduces low-level friction and allows classrooms to stay focused on learning rather than constant resets.

The values framework is explicit and practical. Pupils earn Dojo Points for behaviour and for demonstrating the school values, with rewards tied to thresholds and class-level recognition. This is not just a poster exercise, it is designed to make expectations concrete for younger children and consistent across year groups. For families, the advantage is predictability, pupils understand what “good choices” look like in the language of the school.

The school is part of Victorious Academies Trust, and has been since January 2018, after opening in September 2015. In practice, that trust context shows up in governance and shared policies, while the day-to-day identity still reads as a local two-form entry primary.

Nursery provision

Nursery is an integrated part of the school, starting from age 3, but it functions as its own entry point. The school sets out that Nursery entry is managed directly by the academy, with the main intake in September and additional intakes sometimes available in January and April if spaces allow. The important practical point is progression, a Nursery place does not automatically convert into a Reception place, because Reception admissions are run through the local authority process.

This is a primary where the headline attainment measures align with the sense of academic purpose described in official reviews.

Key Stage 2 attainment in 2024

In 2024, 80.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. The England average in the same measure is 62%. That gap is substantial, and it matters because the combined measure is still a good proxy for whether pupils are leaving Year 6 ready for the typical Year 7 curriculum without needing rapid catch-up.

At the higher standard, 28% of pupils achieved greater depth in reading, writing and maths, compared with the England average of 8%. This suggests the school is not only getting more pupils over the expected standard threshold, it is also pushing a meaningful proportion into higher attainment.

Scaled scores reinforce the same story: reading 106, maths 108, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 109.

FindMySchool ranking context

Ranked 2,494th in England and 2nd in Ashton-under-Lyne for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England.

For parents, the useful implication is consistency. A top-quarter profile usually means the school’s systems work across cohorts, rather than relying on one unusually strong year group.

Reading is the clearest pillar. The school sets out a structured approach and names its phonics programme, First Class Phonics, with phonics skills developing from Nursery to Reception. In Key Stage 1 and beyond, the approach extends into whole-class guided reading in Years 2 to 6, and a reading carousel in early years and Year 1. This kind of design helps children build fluency early and then transition into comprehension and wider reading habits without a sudden jump in expectation.

External evaluation supports that reading focus in practical terms. The October 2023 inspection describes systematic phonics in Reception and support for older pupils who need catch-up, plus explicit mechanisms to make reading feel rewarding. The book vending machine, linked to reading rewards, is a good example of turning motivation into routine rather than relying on occasional events.

Beyond reading, the curriculum is described as broad and balanced, with ambitious intent for pupils including those with special educational needs and disabilities. A small number of subjects were still being refined at the time of the latest inspection, with work ongoing to specify the precise knowledge pupils should learn and remember. For families, the practical takeaway is that core systems appear strong, but some foundation subjects may be more variable than the best-established areas.

Supporting pupils with SEND

The school publishes a detailed “waves of support” map that includes both classroom strategies and targeted interventions. Examples include Zones of Regulation groups, Lego Therapy, Thrive groups, Speech Leap, dyslexia screening and assisted technology. This is helpful because it signals that SEND support is not treated as a single bolt-on service, it is structured with different intensities depending on need.

As a primary to Year 6, the main destination question is secondary transfer.

Secondary applications are typically made during Year 6 through the local authority coordinated process. In the Tameside timetable for September 2026 secondary entry, the closing date is 31 October 2025 and offer day is 2 March 2026. For parents, the implication is planning. Secondary decisions and application paperwork run alongside Year 6 learning, so it helps to start shortlisting early in the autumn term.

For pupils who need additional transition support, it is also reassuring that the school’s SEND policy references engagement with secondary schools to plan transitions and transfer key information. That is particularly relevant for children with EHCPs or significant support plans where handover quality can make the first Year 7 term much smoother.

There are two main entry routes, and it is worth treating them separately.

Nursery entry

Nursery applications are managed directly by the school, with the main intake in September and additional intakes sometimes available in January and April if places exist. Children are eligible to start in the term after they turn 3. Nursery fees and charges can change and depend on eligibility for funded hours, so it is best to check the school’s published information for the current position. Attendance at Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place.

Reception entry for September 2026

Reception entry is coordinated by Tameside Council. The published timetable for Reception 2026 shows:

• Applications open: 01 November 2025

• Closing date: 15 January 2026

• Offer day: 16 April 2026

Demand and competition

The most recent admissions snapshot shows 90 applications for 59 offers for the primary entry route, with the school marked as oversubscribed. That works out at about 1.53 applications per place, so while this is not the most extreme competition profile in the system, it is clearly not a walk-in option either.

Parents considering a move for a school place should still treat admissions as competitive and keep alternative preferences realistic. If you are comparing multiple local options, the FindMySchool Map Search can help you understand your position relative to schools you are considering, especially where distance or priority areas come into play.

Wellbeing is framed as an explicit priority, with a dedicated pastoral page signposting support and resources for families, not only pupils. The pastoral team is named, and the offer is positioned as approachable, with families encouraged to raise issues early.

In the wider picture, the school also uses pupil roles to build community responsibility. Reading buddies, where older pupils support younger children, are a simple but effective structure. It reinforces reading practice for younger pupils and builds leadership habits for older ones, which tends to show up in confidence and social maturity.

For children who benefit from additional structure around emotions and behaviour, the published intervention map referencing Zones of Regulation groups, Thrive groups, and tailored pastoral support is a positive sign. It suggests the school expects needs to vary, and is trying to meet that reality through planned provision rather than reactive fixes.

The co-curricular offer is one of the school’s visible strengths, particularly because it is documented with termly club timetables rather than described in vague generalities.

A recent published autumn clubs timetable includes activities such as Lego and Construction Club, Reading Retreat, choir, Spanish, cross country, tag rugby, and Band Skills. For pupils, that variety matters because it gives different “ways to belong”, some children will connect through sport, others through music, reading, or building projects. For parents, it is also a practical help, after-school clubs can provide routine and interest without needing multiple external commitments.

Reading-related enrichment is particularly distinctive. Alongside the book vending machine reward system, pupils are encouraged to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge, and the school has a track record of recognition linked to that programme.

Robbie the school dog is another defining feature. The school presents this as part of daily life, linked to reading, calm companionship and pupil enjoyment. For some children, especially those who are anxious or reluctant readers, a structured “read to the dog” culture can lower stakes and make practice feel safe and normal.

School day timings vary by age, which is typical for a primary with early years provision. Nursery sessions include part-time and full-time options, and Reception to Year 6 runs from 9.00am starts, with most year groups finishing at 3.15pm, while Reception finishes at 3.00pm. The published information also notes that gates and classrooms are open for Reception to Year 6 arrivals from 8.45am to 9.00am.

Wraparound care is available through an on-site breakfast club (from 8.00am) and an after-school club (until 5.00pm) run by teaching assistants.

For travel, Ashton-under-Lyne has both rail and Metrolink connections. Ashton-under-Lyne station provides National Rail services, and the Ashton-under-Lyne Metrolink stop is a key local hub for trams. Families typically combine these with local buses or walking routes depending on where they live.

• Competition for places. Reception entry is coordinated through the local authority and the school is currently oversubscribed, with about 1.53 applications per place in the most recent snapshot. For families who need a guaranteed local option, it is sensible to include multiple realistic preferences.

• Nursery does not guarantee Reception. The school is clear that Nursery attendance does not automatically translate to a Reception place, since Reception admissions sit within the council process.

• Curriculum refinement in some subjects. External evaluation highlights that a small number of subjects were still being tightened up, particularly around specifying the precise knowledge pupils should learn and how teachers address gaps. This is not unusual, but it is relevant if you want strong consistency across all foundation subjects.

• Behaviour analytics still developing. The latest inspection notes that while behaviour is positive, the school’s use of incident information to analyse patterns and trends was not as strong as it could be. For parents of children who need very consistent behaviour systems, it is worth asking how this tracking is now used and what has changed since 2023.

This is a state primary with no tuition fees, and outcomes that look comfortably above England average at Key Stage 2. The identity is clear, reading is central, routines are explicit, and enrichment is well signposted, from Reading Retreat and Band Skills to cross country and tag rugby.

Best suited to families who want a structured, reading-led curriculum with a busy extra-curricular timetable and visible pastoral systems. The main challenge is admissions competition at Reception, and for Nursery families, the need to re-apply through the council route for Reception.