Beech Street Community Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils' achievement by the end of Key Stage 2 is good and has continued to improve since the time of the last inspection. Teaching is good with some that is outstanding.

Teachers deliver interesting lessons as a result of a stimulating curriculum which is focused on pupils' interests. Most lessons are well organised and have good pace and activities that motivate and engage pupils well. Recent changes to the teaching of reading have resulted in improvements in outcomes for pupils at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2.

Because of concerted efforts by leaders, staff, parents and pupils, attendance has improved to be in line with the national av...erage. Parents hold very positive views about the quality of leadership in the school. The school is well led by the experienced headteacher whose vision has created a strong sense of teamwork between all who learn and work there.

Behaviour is good because pupils are clear about what is expected of them from an early age. They enjoy being part of 'Team Beech Street' and are happy and well cared for. Pupils' spiritual, moral and social development is a strength.

They are helped to consider the feelings of others and build their own self-esteem and self-confidence extremely well. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Progress is uneven across the school because : too few boys reach the higher levels in writing in some year groups. Marking does not always consistently help improve all pupils' writing.

Governors do not receive enough information about how well all pupils and groups of pupils are doing to enable them to hold school leaders fully to account. Leaders do not regularly check the quality of teaching or fully consider its impact on pupils' achievement. Strategic plans do not have sharp enough criteria to enable leaders, including governors, to measure the success of actions taken.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school, although numbers have risen recently due to the admission of more children to the Reception class. Most pupils are White British; however, the number of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds continues to grow and is now above average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is larger than average.

Fewer pupils than average are supported at school action. The number of pupils supported at school action plus or those with a statement of special educational needs is broadly average. The number of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium (which provides additional funding for children in the care of the local authority, those who are known to be eligible for free school meals and the children of military personnel on active service overseas) is well above the national average and has risen year on year.

The school meets the current government floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. Awards held include Investors in People, the Arts Mark and, recently, the school has been awarded the Basic Skills Quality Mark for the fourth time. Breakfast and after-school provision are managed by a private company and are subject to a separate inspection.

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