Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #35 in Walsall public Top 60% UK

Croft Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMiss Samantha Crisp

corporate_fareTHE ELLIOT FOUNDATION ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onWalsall, WS2 8JE

language Visit Website phone 1922720689

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

250

school

Expected Standard

60%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

Croft Academy is a Academy sponsor led primary school in Walsall, serving ages 2-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 60% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Croft Academy is an academy sponsor led in Walsall, admitting pupils aged 2-11. It is part of THE ELLIOT FOUNDATION ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 252 pupils on roll, of whom 67% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 60% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 10% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #35 of 60 primaries in Walsall and #6,663 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 21.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 57%

Reading63% LA 71%

Writing83% LA 67%

Maths90% LA 70%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

89%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading89% LA 71% · Eng 74%

Writing89% LA 67% · Eng 72%

Maths89% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

48%

LA 56%England 60%

Reading68% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Writing55% LA 68% · Eng 71%

Maths71% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.9

Read

LA -0.5

1.5 to 6.3

0.6

Write

LA -0.1

-1.7 to 3.0

2.5

Maths

LA -0.3

0.2 to 4.8

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

57%

LA 58%England 65%

Reading68% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing79% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths71% LA 74% · Eng 79%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.2

Read

LA -0.4

-2.6 to 2.2

1.9

Write

LA -0.4

-0.3 to 4.2

-0.3

Maths

LA -0.1

-2.4 to 1.8

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

70%

LA 59%

Reading70% LA 70%

Writing74% LA 73%

Maths70% LA 72%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.8

Read

LA -0.3

-3.2 to 1.6

0.2

Write

LA -0.6

-2.1 to 2.5

-0.6

Maths

LA 0.0

-2.8 to 1.6

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

15 October 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

26 April 2022

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

26 May 2021

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

16 March 2021

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

05 November 2020

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

08 July 2019

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

27 June 2018

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

19 July 2017

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

14 June 2016

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

21 October 2014

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

02 July 2014

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

7 Evaluations

2024-10-15

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 4 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-04-26

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 3 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-07-08

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2018-06-27

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2017-07-19

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2016-06-14

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2014-07-02

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.4%(1 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 252 pupils. During this period, there were 1 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.4%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	252	1	0.4%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	241	2	0.8%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	246	2	0.8%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	244	0	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	231	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	246	2	0.8%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	250	1	0.4%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	242	1	0.4%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	249	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	255	2	0.8%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	248	3	1.2%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	240	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	246	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	227	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	230	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	230	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	223	2	0.9%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	240	1	0.4%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	234	1	0.4%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	227	4	1.8%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	225	1	0.4%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	229	2	0.9%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	228	2	0.9%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	240	1	0.4%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	236	2	0.8%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	236	0	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 20 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 13 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 4 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 1 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

82.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

27.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree45%

agree27%

disagree18%

don't know9%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree55%

agree36%

strongly disagree9%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree36%

agree36%

disagree18%

not applicable9%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree27%

agree45%

disagree9%

don't know18%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree64%

agree36%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree55%

agree36%

strongly disagree9%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree36%

agree45%

don't know18%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree45%

agree55%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree18%

agree55%

disagree9%

strongly disagree9%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes73%

no27%

Top Primary Schools in Walsall

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School

Good

location_on Walsall, WS9 0HA

emoji_events #1 in LA

St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School

Good

location_on Walsall, WS3 1SP

emoji_events #2 in LA

Reedswood E-ACT Academy

Good

location_on Walsall, WS2 8RX

emoji_events #3 in LA

Millfield Primary School

Good

location_on Walsall, WS8 6BN

emoji_events #4 in LA

County Bridge Primary School

Good

location_on Walsall, WS2 0DH

emoji_events #5 in LA

Goldsmith Primary Academy

Good

location_on Harden, WS3 1DL

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Walsall arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Walsall

St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School

St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School

Reedswood E-ACT Academy

Millfield Primary School

County Bridge Primary School

Goldsmith Primary Academy