St Columba Church of England Primary Academy is a smaller-than-average primary school. There are seven single-age classes. It is sponsored by Portsmouth and Winchester Diocesan Academy Trust, which is responsible for the governance of the school. The school has a local governing body, and the trust’s ‘scheme of empowerment’ clarifies what governance functions are delegated to this body by the trust. The school also has a resource-based provision for 10 children from Reception to Year 2 who have a range of needs, including language and developmental delay. The principal took up the role in September 2018. An interim principal led the school for two terms after the previous principal left in December 2017. Since then there has been a period of considerable turnover, in which many teachers, support staff and governors have come and gone. Inspection report: St Columba Church of England Primary Academy, 26–27 February 2019 Page 10 of 13 The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is well above the national average. Levels of deprivation are above those seen nationally. The proportion of pupils who are from ethnic minorities is below the national average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is well below that seen nationally. The proportion of pupils with SEND is well above that seen in other schools across the country. The school had its most recent inspection of denominational education given to pupils and of the content of the school’s collective worship, under section 48 of the Education Act 2005, in March 2018.