Balshaw Lane Community Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

Balshaw Lane Primary is an outstanding school that is highly valued by parents and carers.

It offers a high standard of care, pupils' attainment is significantly above the national average and all elements of pupils' personal development are outstanding. The headteacher's excellent leadership ensures that her vision of excellence is shared by staff and pupils alike. A highly-skilled and experienced governing body keeps a very close eye on provision and outcomes, taking full consideration of stakeholders' views.

Senior leaders have rigorous processes for monitoring and evaluating performance. They use the accurate information that they gather intelligently to plan developments. This successful... strategy ensures that outcomes for pupils are maintained at a high level and that issues are addressed swiftly.

For example, current assessments by teachers indicate good success for measures introduced this term to boost reading at Key Stage 2 for the more-able. The capacity for sustained improvement is outstanding. Children make a flying start to their education because of outstanding provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Progress in Key Stages 1 and 2 is good overall and often outstanding for the older pupils. Progress is tracked individually and new class action plans provide intervention strategies to help pupils reach their targets. There are some variations among groups of pupils.

Managers analyse rigorously the progress data for some groups, for example that of boys and girls, to check that provision is meeting their needs. However this excellent practice is not extended to groups such as summer born pupils and those who speak English as an additional language. Teaching is good overall; it is often outstanding in upper Key Stage 2 where pupils rise to their teachers' high expectations and relish the challenges presented to them.

Staff work very well as a team but there is a need to extend opportunities further for the sharing of outstanding practice. The curriculum is outstanding and includes a rich emphasis on the arts and sport. Pupils' interests are fired by stimulating topic work that links subjects together in an imaginative way and includes a rich variety of visits and extra-curricular clubs.

However, the innovative links between subjects, skills teaching and activities are not always explicitly recorded in longer-term planning. This reduces opportunities for the sharing and preservation of outstanding practice. Behaviour is excellent; harmonious relationships exist between pupils of different ages and backgrounds, and attendance is high.

Pupils assert that they feel safe and love coming to school. All age groups relish the many opportunities provided for them to experience responsibility. For example, the school council plays a significant role in decision-making and pupils often take the initiative in fundraising for charities.

Information about the school

This school is larger than the average primary school. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is much lower than the national average, as is the proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. The very large majority of pupils is of White, British heritage.

The majority of pupils are taught in mixed-age classes. The school is accredited with the Activemark, Eco-Schools and International Schools awards and has Healthy School status. A private provider offers nursery places, as well as before- and after-school care for school-age children.

This provision is subject to a separate inspection and report. Recently, there have been several changes to staffing and management. At the time of inspection, two classes were taught by temporary teachers.

Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms

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