Canterbury Cross Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Across Key Stage 2 pupils make good and sometimes exceptional progress in reading writing and mathematics.

Their standards by the time they leave are above average. The headteacher, supported by his committed staff, has been unswerving in his drive to ensure all pupils succeed and are ready for the next stage in their education when they leave. The quality of teaching is good and some is outstanding, particularly in Key Stage 2.

This is because teachers have high expectations of the pupils and ensure they are motivated. Teachers' marking provides consistently good guidance on how pupils can improve. The school gives a high priority to th...e teaching of reading and writing.

Pupils read widely and often and the teaching of phonics and spelling is highly effective. Behaviour throughout the school is good. The pupils are diligent in completing their homework, motivated to learn and complete a lot of work in lessons.

Parents and Carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school, believe their children are kept safe and share the school's commitment for them to do as well as they can. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The quality of teaching in Key Stage 1 is not consistently good. Teachers do not recognise quickly enough when pupils find things difficult and do not challenge more able pupils to think for themselves sufficiently.

Some new subject leaders do not have sufficient experience to make accurate judgements about the quality of teaching in their subjects. Although they are very well informed about the school, governors have, at times, been a little too reliant on the headteacher for updates on the school's improvement rather than coming in to see for themselves.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized primary school.

All the pupils come from ethnic minorities and nearly all speak English as an additional language. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is higher than average. The proportion with a statement of special educational needs or supported on school action plus is equivalent to the national average.

The proportion of pupils who are eligible for the pupil premium, which is additional funding for pupils receiving free school meals, those in the care of the local authority and certain other groups is higher than average. The school meets the government's current floor standards which sets minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress at the end of Year 6. The school has a nursery with part time pupils in the morning and afternoon.