Bourne Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school.

It has improved since the previous inspection; all the areas previously judged as satisfactory are now good. It is not yet an outstanding school because teaching is good rather than outstanding and the governing body's ability to challenge the school's performance is limited by the lack of opportunities for it to be involved in monitoring. Children make good progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage in developing skills, independence and learning habits.

Attainment at the end of Year 6 is above average; pupils are taught well and make good progress. The curriculum provides good opportunities to develop pupils' skills. Numerous opportunities for reading ensure above-av...erage attainment in reading.

Well-targeted support ensures no pupils fall behind. Given their starting points, the achievement of all groups of pupils is good. Lessons are generally lively and engaging.

Pupils enjoy learning, concentrate hard and work well together. Teachers have high expectations and work is adapted well to meet all pupils' needs. Work is marked thoroughly, providing clear indications to pupils of how best to meet their goals.

Occasionally, the pace of lessons slackens, work is less interesting and so learning slows. Pupils have a balanced view of safety and are aware of hazards. Behaviour is good.

Pupils are very positive about learning and relationships are warmly constructive. They report bullying is extremely rare and discrimination by race, gender, or any other category is unknown. They confirm the school deals well with any rare transgressions.

Leadership and management of the school are distributed amongst all staff, who share the school's ambition and contribute effectively to improvements. Leadership of teaching is based on careful management of staff performance and regular monitoring. However, senior staff do not always follow up quickly enough on the few occasions when teaching requires improvement.

The governing body is supportive, but checks on the daily life of the school are irregular. The Early Years Foundation Stage is led and managed well, but its outdoor areas do not provide a stimulating environment for learning.

Information about the school

Bourne Primary is an average-sized primary school.

Approximately two fifths of its pupils are from minority ethnic groups; this is above average. Pupils of Indian and Other White and other ethnic backgrounds make up the largest groups. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is above average.

The percentage of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is below average. The proportion of those known to be eligible for free school meals is below average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.