High Oakham Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils from all backgrounds achieve well.

Standards in English and mathematics are above average by the end of Year 6. Pupils develop good reading and writing skills. They greatly enjoy reading and are very keen to talk about their choices of books.

Children get off to an excellent start in Reception and make particularly good progress in developing their reading, writing and social skills. Across the school, teaching is consistently at least good. Some is outstanding.

Teachers take care to match work closely to pupils' needs and ability levels so they all make good progress. Pupils behave well and have good attitudes to learnin...g. They are polite, courteous and friendly, and willingly support each other.

The headteacher, deputy and other school leaders have worked successfully to improve the quality of teaching and raise standards since the last inspection. Staff are very committed and many say that they are proud to work at the school. The governors have played an important part by providing high levels of support while challenging leaders to keep on improving pupils' education.

They have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities and know the school very well. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not all teachers ask questions skilfully to involve the whole class in discussions or to make pupils think harder. Teachers' marking does not always show pupils how to improve their work, and when they occasionally talk too long at the start of lessons this cuts the time available for learning.

Although leaders have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses, their development plans are not sharply focused enough to help accelerate further improvements.

Information about this school

High Oakham is larger than the average-sized primary school. The great majority of pupils are of White British heritage, with a very small minority coming from other ethnic backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for additional support through pupil premium funding is below average. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs supported at school action, school action plus or through a statement of special educational needs is below average. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are catered for in the Reception class.

Children join from over 20 pre-school settings across the locality. The school meets the government's floor targets, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. A pre-school group and an after-school club share the school site; these are subject to a separate inspection.

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