Bridgewater Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Pupils thrive in the school's inclusive, harmonious and nurturing environment. Pupils feel very well cared for and safe.

The staff ensure that all pupils are given every opportunity to engage fully in school life. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage have excellent facilities and teaching to enable them to make rapid progress. Pupils' progress, from their starting points, is outstanding throughout the school, because : every child's progress is frequently reviewed and support is provided if their progress is not better than expected.

All pupils are able to make the same outstanding progress, including those known to be eli...gible for support through the pupil premium, pupils who speak English as an additional language, disabled pupils and those with special educational needs. Outstanding teaching ensures that each individual child gets the best possible opportunity to learn very quickly, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics. Teaching staff plan lessons and activities that are generally very well matched to the different ability groups in each class.

In science and topic work, pupils' work is not always as well matched to abilities but this is being improved. Writing is exceptionally well taught in the school, resulting in all pupils making much better than expected progress. All staff have high expectations and a consistent approach to managing pupils' behaviour, resulting in pupils showing high levels of respect to adults and each other.

Pupils are excellent ambassadors for their school. Pupils' attendance has improved rapidly over the last four years. The vigilant monitoring of pupils' absence and the many initiatives, such as providing transport and Breakfast Club, have all made a significant contribution.

The excellent leadership of the headteacher has ensured that the whole school team works well together to provide the highest quality of education. All staff have extremely high expectations for the pupils. The focus on rapid progress and attention to individual pupils' difficulties has driven up standards over the last few years.

The governing body effectively challenges all aspects of the school's work. It also provides high quality support.

Information about this school

This school is an average-sized primary school.

Most pupils are from White British backgrounds. There are an average number of pupils from many different minority ethnic backgrounds. The number of pupils who speak English as an additional language is well-above average.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action is below average. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for pupil premium is well-above average.

Pupil premium is additional funding allocated for pupils in the care of the local authority, those known to be eligible for free school meals or whose parents are in the armed services. The proportion of pupils who start the school other than in Nursery class and those who leave the school before Year 6 is very high. The cohort sizes are much smaller in Key Stage 2 than in Key Stage 1.

This results in relatively small cohorts of pupils taking national tests at the end of Key Stage 2. The school has an Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 Assessment Resource Centre, which admits pupils from across the city of Newcastle. The school meets the government's current minimum floor standard, which sets the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

A new deputy headteacher was appointed in September 2013. The school has provision for 0 to 3-year-olds. This facility was not part of this inspection.

Also at this postcode