Deer Park School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The exceptional headteacher has created an ethos focused on enabling every child to succeed. She ensures that inclusion lies at the heart of this outstanding school. Leaders and teachers ensure that pupils make very strong progress in English and mathematics.

They reach above-average standards by the end of Year 2. Pupils' progress in other subjects, for example science and humanities, is also consistently strong. Teachers use questioning skilfully to check for gaps in pupils' learning and to probe their understanding.

Pupils' strong progress across the curriculum is evident in their workbooks. The most able pupils and those who h...ave special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities make excellent progress from their starting points. Teachers provide work which is well matched to pupils' level of ability.

They provide pupils with additional support or challenge where needed. The outstanding curriculum provides pupils with a wide range of highly stimulating learning activities. It is enriched through trips, external visitors and clubs.

Governors and the trust board provide excellent challenge and support. They question leaders thoroughly in meetings and hold them to account. All adults provide high levels of nurture and support.

Pupils are looked after well. Leaders and staff make sure that pupils are safe and know how to stay safe. Pupils are very polite, courteous and respectful.

They behave exceptionally well and work hard to reach the standards of which they are capable. Pupils enjoy school and attend regularly. Attendance rates are above average.

Children make outstanding progress in the early years because provision is very well led and managed and teaching is consistently strong. As a result, children are extremely well prepared for Year 1. Parents are highly supportive of the school.

They value immensely the outstanding quality of education the school provides. Pupils are adept at number work and problem-solving in mathematics but are less confident in their reasoning skills. The development of middle leadership roles across the school is at an early stage.

Information about this school

This is a small primary free school which opened in Richmond upon Thames in September 2015 for children aged four to 11 years old. Deer Park is one of seven free schools managed by the Bellevue Place Education Trust (BPET). BPET has set up a local governing body to provide ongoing support and challenge to the school.

The school aims to 'stimulate and inspire each child, develop their interests and equip them with lifelong learning skills'. The school opened with one class of 30 children in September 2015. Currently, there is one class of 30 children in the Reception Year, and 49 pupils in key stage 1.

The school is currently housed in temporary premises. It is planned that the school will move into its permanent, purpose-built premises in September 2019. The school is expected to continue to grow and reach its full capacity of 420 pupils, comprising two forms of entry.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is well below the national average. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is lower than that found nationally. Around 40% of the pupils are of White British heritage and one third are of Any Other White background.

Many pupils speak English as an additional language. The headteacher has been in post since March 2015. This is the school's first full inspection.

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