Bedlington Station Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Children make a good start to their time in school as they settle well to learning in the Nursery.

They make good progress across the Early Years Foundation Stage as they have consistently good teaching and support for their personal development. Pupils make good progress across Key Stages 1 and 2 due to consistently good teaching. Pupils' progress is thoroughly and regularly checked to ensure all pupils are making the best progress they can.

Teaching is good across the school. Pupils respond well to teachers' questioning and make good progress in their learning. Pupils are clear about what they are learning and work well on their own wi...th the tasks set.

Teaching assistants support well in and out of lessons with small groups. Pupils are keen to learn and respond well to their teachers. They work and play in harmony, readily sharing ideas in lessons when working together.

Pupils have a good understanding of how to keep safe and how to manage risk in different situations. They say bullying is rare. The strong, determined and passionate leadership of the headteacher has successfully steered the school through a significant period of change.

She is well supported by a strong team of staff who are keen to ensure all pupils achieve well. They have improved the quality of teaching and standards are rising. The governing body has rigorously supported the school during its period of change .

They have also challenged the school to improve and this has had a positive impact on the school's performance. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not yet outstanding as pupils are not always able to check on their own learning and progress. Marking does not always enable them to reach a higher standard in their work.

Pupils' differing needs are not always as well planned or as well catered for. Standards in writing at Key Stage 2 are not high enough. Pupils do not have enough opportunities to write in other subjects or use their reading skills to improve their writing.

Boys do not write as well as they could as activities do not always interest them sufficiently so that they can improve their skills.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school. A well-above average proportion of pupils are supported by the pupil premium, which is additional funding for those pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children in the care of the local authority.

A well-above average proportion of pupils are supported through school action. An above average proportion of pupils are supported at school action plus or have a statement of special educational needs. The vast majority of pupils are of White British heritage.

The school did not meet the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics. The Early Years Foundation Stage is taught in a Reception and a Nursery class that share the same outdoor learning area. The school has a breakfast club managed by the governing body.

The school became a primary school in 2012. Year 6 were still housed in separate accommodation some distance from the main school until September 2013, with pupils from three different feeder schools joining Year 6. The school has experienced significant staffing changes and building works during the transition to its primary school status.

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