Ainsdale St John’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Children quickly become enthusiastic learners in the Early Years Foundation Stage where they benefit from excellent teaching and an exciting and lively curriculum. The school builds extremely well on this excellent start and, as a result, pupils' overall achievement is outstanding.

Pupils make excellent progress as they move up through the school and they achieve above average standards by the time they leave Year 6. Outstanding teaching makes certain that all pupils learn very well. Teachers and other adults have very high expectations of all learners.

They know pupils exceptionally well and set challenging work which encourages... pupils to reason and develop independent learning skills. Pupils who are disabled and those with special educational needs are extremely well provided for and are enabled to achieve well in this fully inclusive school. Behaviour is outstanding.

Pupils are unfailingly polite and considerate of others in this happy school. Eager to learn, pupils relish challenge and show great initiative and self-motivation in their approach to learning. The headteacher's excellent leadership is strongly supported by the deputy headteacher, very knowledgeable and effective governors and by staff at every level in the school.

The rich and vibrant curriculum is very well matched to pupils' needs and provides a wide range of learning opportunities and experiences. Where teaching is most effective, marking shows pupils clear next steps to improve their work and teachers provide time for them to act on this advice in lessons. Leaders have identified that this is not yet fully consistent across the school and work is underway to address this.

Parents have great confidence in the school and its leaders and staff. They say that their children enjoy school, are safe and well-cared for.

Information about this school

The school is an average-sized primary school.

The proportions of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and those who speak English as an additional language are well below national averages. The proportion of pupils supported through school action is below the national average. An average proportion of pupils are supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium funding is below the national average. (The pupil premium is additional government funding provided for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children from service families and those children that are looked after by the local authority.) The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics.

Since the previous inspection the school has experienced significant changes to the school leadership team. Following the retirement of the previous post holder, a new headteacher was appointed in September 2012. A new deputy headteacher was also appointed at this time.

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