Boothstown Methodist Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The school provides a happy and motivating environment where pupils grow in confidence and develop enthusiasm for learning.

Good leadership promotes a strong sense of teamwork among staff and supportive relationships between staff and pupils. Leaders are successfully improving the school. Teaching is improving as a result of well-planned professional development.

Good teaching supports pupils who are currently in school to make good progress across a range of subjects. Pupils usually achieve above average standards in national tests and assessments. Teachers' high expectations for self-reliance help pupils develop mature personal skills ...that prepare them well for the next stage of their education.

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted extremely well. Pupils make a significant contribution to the positive ethos of the school. They reflect the school's values in their good behaviour, demonstrating respect for each other.

Pupils feel safe and secure. They understand about bullying and feel it does not happen in school. The early years provision is good.

Children make good progress from their varied starting points. Provision in the Reception class and the promotion of children's language and communication skills are particularly strong. Governors have a clear vision for the school and are committed to 'providing more outstanding experiences for children'.

They provide good support and challenge to leaders. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils do not make outstanding progress. Progress at Key Stage 1 is not as rapid as it is at Key Stage 2.

Mathematics, information and communication technology (ICT) and spelling are not taught as successfully as other subjects. Handwriting is not given enough attention at Key Stage 1. Adults do not always support children in Nursery to make the best possible gains in their learning when they choose activities for themselves.

Subject leaders are not driving improvements in their subjects as sharply as they could. A very small minority of parents are of the opinion that communication with the school is not good enough.

Information about this school

This is an average-sized primary school.

Children in the early years are provided for in a full-time Nursery class and a Reception class. The Nursery class provides for children from outside the immediate vicinity of the school. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is broadly average.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils supported by the pupil premium is below average. (The pupil premium is additional government funding to support pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority). The vast majority of pupils are white British.

A very small proportion speak English as an additional language. The school meets the government's current floor standards. These are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics at the end of Year 6.

The school participates in a cluster network with other primary schools in the area. A breakfast club and after-school care are provided on the site. These are not managed by the governing body and receive a separate inspection report which is published on the Ofsted website.