• Urban Academy 142 pupils in Rotherham
• Ofsted rating: Good
• FSM: 38.7%

Review rating:

Average rating across all Purple Mash reviews: 4.2/5

I like it, children in schools where I’ve taught, love it.

How well does it match the curriculum?

Reasonably: It’s good enough for the money, but needs some additional resources

Children enjoy it, don’t feel like they are working! Work is appropriate for a range of abilities. Easily accessible, less work for staff.

How well does it support adaptation for different groups of pupils?

Well: A large majority of resources are suitably differentiated for pupils

Sometimes too tricky for the very low ability children. We have a number of foreign children who struggle to follow the programmes sometimes.

How well does it engage and motivate pupils?

Well: Pupils generally enjoy using it and tend to welcome doing so

Child friendly, they feel as if they are playing games. Like to see what others are doing. Would like to be able to show examples on a big screen.

How well supported is it by any included formative assessments?

Badly: There isn’t any / enough formative assessment or what there is, isn’t very useful

Don’t feel that it’s effective at all.

How well does it support planning?

Reasonably: Mostly we can use it without an unreasonable amount of effort or additional resource requirement

Straightforward enough for even the most technologically challenged! No need to print off any planning, can just make extra notes eg reminders, exceptions for poorer children.

How well does it support home use / independent learning?

Reasonably: It could be used at home or independently, but pupils would need some extra support or resources

Parents often find it trickier than the children.

How would you rate it for value for money compared to similar resources?

Reasonably: It represents about the same value for money as similar resources I’ve seen

I’m not sure really. Have heard it being discussed as value for money but other people make the decision to purchase.

Would you recommend it to a colleague in a similar school to yours? 7/11

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