Alexander McLeod Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This school provides an exceptional education.

Leaders have very high expectations for all pupils. The exciting and creative curriculum includes many opportunities to enrich pupils' learning and develop their characters to ensure that they are well prepared for life in modern Britain. As a result of all of this, pupils achieve highly across different subjects.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They listen respectfully to adults and to each other. In lessons, they are highly motivated and keen to join in, show strong self-control and stay on task well.

Pupils understand the behaviour rules of the school and recognise the impact of poor behaviour on others. Pupil...s are kept safe. If they have a concern, they can name a trusted adult they can talk to who they know will deal with their worries appropriately.

The school provides a huge range of ways to support pupils' wider development. This includes different clubs, visitors, and trips to places such as museums and places of worship. Pupils are proud of the tolerance and diversity in the school.

It is important to them that everyone is valued for who they are. One pupil explained it as, 'We accept everyone, we are all equal.'

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has developed a highly ambitious curriculum.

It uses the strong expertise of curriculum leaders to get underneath the national curriculum and build knowledge throughout the pupils' journey through the school. Pupils' learning is often connected across different subjects. For example, in physical education (PE) lessons, pupils understand the scientific names and effects of different muscle groups on the movements they are using.

There is a strong culture of reading across the school. Pupils learn phonics as soon as they enter the reception class. Staff check pupils' progress regularly.

If pupils fall behind, trained staff provide expert support so that they catch up quickly. Pupils read books that are matched to their phonics knowledge. The enjoyment of reading is promoted throughout the school.

Opportunities include class story times, author visits and older pupils being a 'reading buddy' for younger pupils.

The curriculum builds on pupils' prior learning. For example, Year 1 pupils learn about how transport in Abbey Wood has changed and developed over time, comparing old and new buses.

By Year 6, they are able to discuss the changes to the ethnic diversity of the area and how Britain has benefited from the Windrush generation.

Teachers ensure that they recap important knowledge during lessons and check on pupils' learning, for example through careful questioning and talking to pupils about their work during lessons. Important vocabulary is taught and modelled by teachers and integrated into lessons.

Pupils can apply the new terms in their independent work, enhancing their understanding.

A robust system is in place for quickly identifying and supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils are provided with the personalised support they need, including the use of visual and sensory resources.

The school also works with a range of outside agencies to provide specialist advice. These measures ensure that pupils with SEND access their learning successfully.

Pupils enjoy coming to school.

They are keen to learn, take pride in their work and describe their teachers as being 'fun and kind.' Pupils behave with high levels of respect for each other. This is seen in the way they work in pairs and groups and in their thoughtful gestures on the playground, for instance inviting someone who is not in a game to join in.

The school is doing all it can to improve levels of attendance. Leaders have meetings with parents and carers of those pupils whose attendance is a concern. They offer families helpful support where needed.

Pupils are active members of the school and local community. They can become a 'midday marvel,' where they help keep the hall tidy and support the play of younger pupils, be a 'junior travel ambassador,' promoting walking to school, or collect food for a local food bank. The school invites visitors to enrich the curriculum, including theatre groups, faith leaders and parents and members of the community who can talk to the pupils about careers available to them in the future.

Governors know their roles and responsibilities well. They provide highly effective challenge and support to the school, supported by the local authority. Staff say that leaders are supportive and attentive to their needs.

They value the training they receive but also appreciate the care for their well-being. Parents speak highly about the education provided by the school and also the provision for development of 'the whole child.'

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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