Ribbleton Avenue Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils make rapid progress through the school and learn exceptionally well. Their attainment by the end of Year 2 in reading, writing and mathematics is broadly average.

This represents outstanding achievement from their starting points which are well below those expected for their age and exceptionally low in speech and language development. Much of the teaching is outstanding and never less than consistently good. Teachers have very high expectations of pupils' behaviour and of what they can achieve.

Teaching assistants make an excellent contribution to pupils' learning. Staff show very high levels of respect and courtesy for p...upils and others. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary.

They are very polite and considerate towards others. Pupils have an excellent understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe. They say they feel very safe in school at all times.

All pupils benefit from a highly relevant curriculum that provides rich opportunities for high-quality learning. It promotes pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development in an exceptional way. The headteacher provides inspirational leadership and has been central to the school, maintaining and building upon its outstanding performance at the previous inspection.

Leaders and governors have worked together especially well to make further improvement in the quality of teaching and to raise pupils' achievement. There are excellent procedures for checking how well the school is doing and for identifying areas for improvement. Leaders and governors use this information extremely well to drive the school forward.

Action taken to bring about improvement is rigorously assessed to see how successful it is proving. Leaders have strengthened links with parents and this has led to a significant improvement in pupils' attendance over the past year; leaders are aware there is more to do. The school is committed to the well-being of all pupils and provides exceptional care for those whose circumstances might put them at risk.

The governing body is highly ambitious for the school and makes an excellent contribution to its work and direction. The school's ability to carry on making improvements is outstanding.

Information about this school

Ribbleton Avenue is an average-sized primary school.

An above-average proportion of pupils are eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for children in local authority care, those whose parents are in the armed forces and pupils known to be eligible for free school meals. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is well above average as is that of pupils whose first language is not English. A high proportion of children start school at an early stage of learning to speak English.

The proportion of pupils supported through school action is below average. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is average. The school has gained a number of national awards, including the Excellence in Learning Award, and holds Healthy School status.