Bridgewater Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Pupils' outcomes in all ability groups are excellent.

Pupils make substantial progress from their starting points, which are typically below those that would be expected. Pupils' attitudes to learning are exemplary. Teachers and teaching assistants encourage pupils to be inquisitive and to develop a love of learning.

The inspirational headteacher is relentless in her drive to ensure that all pupils achieve their best. She has created a staff team who wholeheartedly share, and successfully deliver, her vision for all pupils to thrive academically and emotionally. The highly skilled deputy headteacher has been pivotal in improving t...he quality of teaching, learning and assessment since the previous inspection.

As a result, outcomes for pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, are outstanding. Very competent senior, middle and subject leaders ensure that teachers use very accurate assessments to plan effective and interesting lessons. Teachers make sure pupils have precise guidance to improve continuously.

Children get off to a flying start in the early years. Effective action has been taken to improve the quality of teaching and outcomes so that children are well prepared for Year 1. Teachers and support staff demonstrate excellent subject knowledge across the rich curriculum.

They fully understand how children learn and use this to ensure that all pupils have an equal chance to succeed. The vast majority of parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school. They value the tremendous amount of support given to their children and to them.

They know that their children are safe, cared for well and achieve highly. The outstanding provision for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development makes an excellent contribution to their personal development. They develop a strong sense of social responsibility, tolerance and respect.

Governors ensure that school funding is used wisely so that all pupils get the best possible start in life. This enables pupils to be exceptionally well prepared for the next stage in their education. Leaders and managers have a very accurate understanding of the school's strengths and areas for further development.

They recognise that provision in Year 1 needs continual fine-tuning to adapt to the needs of a small number of pupils whose skills at the end of the Reception Year are less well developed.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. This is a larger-than-average-sized primary school.

Since the previous inspection, the school has moved from one form entry to two classes in each year group other than in Nursery and Year 6. Most pupils are White British, with English as their home language. There is an increasing number of children from different ethnic groups.

The proportion of pupils at an early stage of learning English as an additional language is much lower than that seen nationally. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is more than double that seen nationally. There is an above-average proportion of pupils known to be eligible for support through the pupil premium.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Year 6. The headteacher and other teachers work with staff from a local group of primary schools to provide and receive support. The school provides a breakfast club.