Burnside Academy Inspires

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Leadership at all levels has been very successful in improving the quality of teaching, and consequently, pupils' achievement, since the last inspection. The school continues to improve.

The dynamic headteacher, together with highly competent governors and a strong senior team, has helped create a positive and caring ethos at the school. Staff and pupils told inspectors how proud they are of the school. Leaders know the school's strengths and areas for improvement very well.

Information about the progress pupils make is precise, and helps teachers to support individual pupils. This also allows the leaders to support all staff to improve ...their teaching. The curriculum is excellent.

The school offers a wide range of opportunities to pupils. Behaviour in classrooms and around the school is good and makes a significant contribution to pupils' learning and personal development. Pupils are friendly, polite and well mannered.

They are respectful towards adults and to each other. Pupils say they feel safe and enjoy coming to school. Good teaching means that the majority of pupils of all abilities and groups make at least good progress.

Teaching in Years 5 and 6 is outstanding over time. Teachers plan lessons to make sure all pupils are given work that gets the best out of them. From starting points that are generally below those found typical for their age, over time pupils achieve well to reach standards that are average, and often above average by the time they leave Year 6.

Standards reached in writing and mathematics are particularly strong. Disabled pupils and those with special educational needs make good progress because of the support they receive. Children's learning gets off to a very good start in the Early Years.

They make good progress and are prepared well for their learning in Year 1, especially when they have needed to catch up from lower starting points. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Standards in reading are not as high as in writing and mathematics. In some classes, expectations are not quite high enough, and fussy behaviour slows learning.

The quality of marking is not consistently high enough across the school.

Information about this school

Burnside Primary School is a smaller than average size primary school. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is above average.

The proportion of pupils identified with special educational needs and supported through school action is above average. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below average. The number of pupils who start school at times other than the beginning of the year or the beginning of the Reception Year is above average.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics. Since the time of the last inspection, a full restructuring of the senior leadership team has taken place. The school has the Healthy School's status.