Ethelbert Road Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The headteacher, supported by her senior leaders and governing body, has the highest expectations for all pupils.

Together, they provide outstanding leadership that enables staff and pupils to thrive and achieve highly. Pupils' exceptional personal, spiritual, moral and social development is at the heart of the school's success and underpins everything they do. There is a strong sense of mutual respect between adults and pupils.

Parents, children, teachers and leaders are united in working together to continue to move the school forward Standards and progress in reading, writing and mathematics are consistently well above the nat...ional average at the end of Year 2 and Year 6. They are continuing to rise. Teaching is outstanding.

Teachers and support staff are highly skilled and work as a team to support all pupils. They receive excellent training to support their professional development. Children in the Reception class make outstanding progress and achieve a good level of development.

They develop excellent communication and language skills because : teaching is outstanding. Pupils are exceptionally well motivated to learn. They take the utmost pride in their work and constantly strive to do their best.

Their behaviour in lessons and around the school is outstanding. They are friendly and polite at all times. Pupils say they feel very safe in school.

This view is echoed by parents who have complete confidence in the school's ability to look after their children well. Attendance is well above the national average for primary schools because pupils like coming to school. Pupils thoroughly enjoy the wide range of subjects and enrichment activities on offer during the day and through after-school clubs.

As a result, pupils develop excellent skills and attitudes to support their journey into the next stage of their education. The governing body robustly holds the school to account for its performance regarding the staff's impact on pupils' progress. This has resulted in a continued improvement in teaching and achievement across the school.

Governors ensure safeguarding procedures are maintained to the highest standards.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school. It has been growing since the previous inspection.

It is now designated as a one-form entry primary school. The proportion of pupils supported through a statement of special educational needs or at school action plus is broadly in line with the national average. The proportion of pupils supported by additional government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals or who are looked after is very small and much lower than the national average.

Most pupils are of White British heritage and do not speak English as an additional language. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. There has been considerable building work since the previous inspection to create extra space for the growing pupil numbers.