Aldborough Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Most pupils make good progress in their lessons because of the high expectations of teachers and pupils' positive attitudes. Pupils who need extra help with their learning get a good level of support.

Teaching is good, with effective questioning and interesting activities that motivate pupils. Teaching is improving as a result of good support and monitoring from the Principal and Deputy Principal, together with regular reviews from the E-ACT adviser. Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school.

They are polite and courteous to visitors. The school is led and managed well, with effective support and challenge from the governing bo...dy. Working in a strong partnership together, senior staff and governors know the school's strengths and weaknesses.

This has established firm foundations for the work of the school. The vision, drive and commitment of the Principal are at the heart of the improvement at this school. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Some of the most-able pupils are not always challenged as much as they could be in lessons.

The progress made by pupils in mathematics is not as strong as in reading and writing. Marking is not always used effectively to guide pupils on how to improve their work. Attendance is still below the national average.

Information about this school

Aldborough E-ACT Free School opened in September 2011 with two Reception classes and two Year 1 classes. From September 2012 there were also two Year 2 classes. The school plans to increase in size, with the admission of up to 60 pupils each autumn term until there is a full primary age range.

Currently, the school roll is below the average for primary schools. The school serves an urban area of the London Borough of Redbridge where there is increasing demand for primary school places. Aldborough has surplus places and this means that parents will take up these if schools in their home area are full.

As a consequence, some pupils travel a considerable distance to attend the school. Furthermore, as there are currently only three primary year groups of younger pupils in the school, some families have one child at Aldborough with an older primary-aged sibling at another school. This contributes to the high mobility at the school as some parents will move pupils so that their children attend the same school if a place becomes available.

Most pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for children in the care of the local authority, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals or with a parent serving in the armed forces, is in line with the national average. The proportion of pupils who are disabled or have special educational needs and are supported at school action is below average.

The proportion of pupils supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also below average. The school does not yet have pupils in Year 6 so there are no test results that can be compared with the government's floor standards, which are the minimum levels expected for pupils' attainment and progress. The school is sponsored and maintained by the E-ACT Free School Trust.