Fernwood Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The executive headteacher and the head of school have worked very effectively with other leaders, governors and staff to ensure that the school has significantly improved and addressed the areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection. The vast majority of parents and carers hold the school in very high regard. Determined action by leaders has resulted in rising standards in most year groups.

Attainment at the end of Reception, by the end of Year 2 and Year 6 is considerably above standards expected in reading, writing and mathematics. Attainment and progress are particularly good in mathematics and writing. Although pupils do well i...n reading overall, in Years 3 and 4, some pupils do not find reading sufficiently engaging.

Some pupils' limited vocabulary occasionally restricts their reading comprehension and the quality of their writing. Monitoring and evaluation are accurate and leaders have a clear understanding of where they need to focus to make the school even better. The school has the capacity to continue to improve.

The quality of teaching has improved. Teaching and the use of assessment are now securely good. Leaders provide effective guidance and training to staff.

Staff learn from one another. Teachers show strong subject knowledge and use this to ensure that teaching meets the full range of abilities in classes. Leaders not only think carefully about how they teach but also what they teach.

The school's curriculum is broad and interesting. For example, apart from English and mathematics, there are strengths in subjects such as history, music, physical education and religious education. Behaviour around school and in the great majority of lessons is good.

Pupils progressively develop very positive attitudes to learning so that by Year 6 pupils show excellent attitudes to learning and to school. Attendance is a little above average overall. However, some disadvantaged pupils do not attend sufficiently regularly.

Arrangements for safeguarding meet requirements. Pupils are well looked after and feel safe in school. Children in the early years benefit from good quality provision, make good progress and are well prepared for Year 1.

Information about this school

The school is much larger than the average sized primary school. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils attending the school is lower than the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is below the national average.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is above average. The school is part of the Nottingham Schools Trust. The number of pupils is growing so that there are five classes in most year groups.