• Urban Academy 320 pupils in Swindon
• Ofsted rating: Good
• FSM: 21.9%

Review rating:

Average rating across all now>press>play reviews: 4.8/5

It is a fantastic resource, that is very effective in inspiring children of all ages and engaging them in experiences.

How well does it match the curriculum?

Brilliantly: There is more content (eg support / extension activities) than we expected

It enthuses and inspires the children, giving them access to information and experiences in an immersive and creative way.

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

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

It is still appropriate for all the pupils but some gain more than others from the experience, dependent on their starting points.

How well does it engage and motivate pupils?

Brilliantly: Pupils love using and are excited when they know they are going to do so

It is fantastic and the children are fully engaged in the experiences. I don't think it could be done better.

How well supported is it by any included formative assessments?

Well: We could (or do) use it for monitoring individual pupil progress

It is not designed to be used for assessment.

How well does it support planning?

Brilliantly: It has everything you could need and is straightforward to use with classes

It gives the teachers some great ideas and starting points for their planning of several areas of the curriculum.

How well does it support home use / independent learning?

Well: Pupils could be expected to use this at home or independently, with a minimum amount of support or additional resources

There are activities that can be completed at home but we don't tend to use it in this way.

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

Brilliantly: It’s possibly the best value for money of any similar resources I’ve seen

It is already very good value. However, they could offer a discount for signing up for several years which would make it even better.

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

• Read more now>press>play reviews

Search all reviews