Acre Heads Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils achieve well and make good progress, especially the more-able pupils in reading. Progress in English is good, but not as strong in mathematics. The school successfully supports those pupils in receipt of the pupil premium and, as a result, they make good progress and achieve as well as their classmates.

Teaching is typically good. Very positive relationships with pupils ensure that they want to please their teachers and they are keen to do well. Behaviour is outstanding.

Pupils are polite, very friendly and a credit to their school. Pupils are happy and proud of their school. They say they feel safe because, 'the teachers... take good care of us and help us in the classroom.'

The headteacher's inspiring and motivational leadership has brought stability to the school after a period of instability. Staff morale is high. Senior leaders, including the governing body, have a good understanding of the quality of teaching in school and how well pupils are achieving.

A strong drive to establish a culture where expectations of pupils and staff are high has resulted in good teamwork, which is moving the school forward effectively. Parents expressed largely positive views and say their children are happy and thriving. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Achievement in mathematics is not as strong as in English because pupils' progress is slower.

Although teaching is good not enough is outstanding in order to drive pupils' progress at an even faster pace and to make their achievement outstanding. Pupils do not always have enough chances to use new technology, such as computers, especially in mathematics. Not all changes to provision are fully evaluated and middle leadership is not equally strong.

Information about this school

The school is larger than most primary schools. Almost all the pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium, which is additional funding given for looked after children, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children of service families, is below the national average.

The percentage of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported at school action and school action plus is below average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The school has had a number of staff changes since the last inspection.