Blakeley Heath Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher has built upon improvements made by the acting headteacher to create a positive and ambitious culture in the school. Teaching is good and there are examples of high-quality practice in the school. Pupils make good progress in a range of subjects in every key stage.

The curriculum is strong. It promotes interest, enjoyment and good learning. Children settle quickly into the Reception class and make good progress within the early years provision.

Pupils are well behaved, polite, considerate and respectful. Their spiritual, moral, cultural and social awareness is well developed. Pupils feel extremely safe.

This is th...e result of robust measures to ensure pupils' safety and well-being. Parents are highly supportive of the school. They recognise and appreciate the improvements that have taken place and the positive impact that they have had on their children.

Governance has improved. Governors now have the skills and information to hold school leaders to close account. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not consistently of the highest standard.

Consequently, some pupils do not make rapid progress. Systems in place for recording pupils' learning do not clearly show the progress that they are making. This means that this information cannot be used fully to inform action.

Self-evaluation and school improvement plans, targets and checks are not precisely linked together to maximise their impact. Leaders are not fully aware of the impact of individual actions to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in every year group. Consequently, an attainment gap remains between these pupils and others.

Many subject leaders are new to their role so they are not yet having a full impact. Pupils are taught about other cultures in the world but their understanding of multicultural Britain is less secure.

Information about this school

The school is an average-sized primary school.

Most pupils are from White British backgrounds. There are very few pupils who speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is below average.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is above average. The proportion of pupils supported with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is average. Children in the early years are taught in one Reception class.

There are currently two classes in Years 1, 4 and 6, and one class in each of the other year groups. The headteacher joined the school in September 2015. The previous headteacher left the school in April 2015 and the deputy headteacher was acting headteacher for a term.

The school meets requirements for the publication of specified information on its website. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. A before- and after-school club, 'Blakeley Bears', operates on the school site.

This provision is managed by the governing body and was observed as part of this inspection. A privately managed Nursery, 'Little Learners', operates on the school site. This provision is inspected separately.