Aycliffe Community Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The headteacher's strong leadership and clear vision have been the driving force behind the school's improvement over the last two years.

The headteacher is supported well by an increasingly effective team of subject leaders and a demanding group of governors. The main reason for the school's improvement is the focus on eliminating weaknesses in teaching and improving the performance of all teachers. Good and improving teaching is leading to more rapid progress and rising attainment.

The senior leadership team is strongly committed to working in partnership with others, in order to improve teaching and the pupils' progress. Pupils try ha...rd in lessons as they are keen and want to do well so they can fulfil the school's aims and 'make a difference'. Pupils say they feel safe at all times.

This reflects the attention paid by staff and governors to ensuring that all pupils are cared for and their well-being safeguarded. Pupils behave sensibly around the school and at play. They are considerate towards the feelings of others and show respect to adults.

Leaders have a very clear understanding of the circumstances of pupils and their families. This means they can target guidance and support closely to their needs. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not all teaching moves the learning of more-able pupils forward sufficiently rapidly.

Some Reception children do not make enough progress because a minority of teaching is not always matched to their needs and learning is not linked between inside and outdoors. Marking, particularly in mathematics, leaves pupils unclear about how well they are doing and what steps they should take to be more successful.

Information about this school

The school is much smaller than most primary schools.

Almost all pupils are from White British backgrounds and very few speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for funding through the pupil premium is above average. This is extra money given to schools for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, in the care of the local authority or those from service families.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is well above average. The proportion supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught in a Reception class along with some Year 1 pupils.

This class has been taught by four different teachers this year. The remaining pupils in Years 1 to 5 are taught in three mixed-age classes. This includes the organisation of pupils in Years 3 to 5 into two 'Learning Stages' for English and mathematics.

These are two classes based on the pupils' attainment. Year 6 has been taught by specialist teachers for English and mathematics this year. The headteacher was appointed in September 2011.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. There is a children's centre on the school site, which is managed by Sure Start. This is inspected separately at another time.

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