Battle Hill Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Teaching is consistently good and occasionally outstanding. Teachers make lessons interesting and move learning on at a brisk pace.

As a result, pupils make good and occasionally outstanding progress. In 2012, pupils in Year 6, including those known to be eligible for the pupil premium and those with special educational needs, made outstanding progress in English in Key Stage 2. The lively activities-based curriculum, which runs throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, ensures that pupils make good progress.

As a result, attainment has risen at the end of Year 2. Marking and target setting are used effectively to help... pupils know how to improve their work. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding.

They care exceptionally well for one another; they say they feel extremely safe. They are determined to do their best in their work. Attendance is improving.

The school offers excellent care and support and provides very well for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The headteacher and the governing body have a very clear understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. They have been determined to improve the school and know clearly how to make it even better.

This is an improving school. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils have too few chances to write at length in English and other subjects or to apply their mathematical skills in real-life situations. Pupils' handwriting is not well formed or neat enough.

Occasionally work is not well matched to the individual learning needs of the most able pupils. Opportunities are missed to offer them extra challenges during lessons. Middle leaders do not have a clear enough picture of the progress pupils are making in individual lessons or over the school year.

Information about this school

This school is larger than the average-sized primary school. The numbers on roll have increased since the last inspection report. Most pupils are White British.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is well above average. (The pupil premium is additional funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children from service families and children that are looked after.) The proportion of pupils supported at school action is average.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average. There are a breakfast club and many after-school clubs, which are organised and managed by school staff. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set out the minimum expectations for pupils' progress and attainment.

The school shares its site with a playgroup which is managed by the governing body and subject to a separate inspection. Pupils in Years 1 and 2 are taught through an approach to teaching and the curriculum which continues the best aspects of Early Years Foundation Stage practice. The headteacher is retiring in the summer after 25 years in post.