Chapel Street Community Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The school has experienced significant turmoil in staffing since the last inspection. However, well-considered appointments, particularly to the leadership team, have ensured that most of the areas for improvement from the last inspection have been addressed, and that the quality of teaching is good.

Leaders have brought consistency to the quality of teaching. For example, the teaching of phonics in the early years and key stage 1 is strong. Younger pupils quickly develop skills which are used as the bedrock of the teaching of early reading.

Leaders have established a culture of high expectations. They have brought about many recent impro...vements in teaching, which are becoming embedded and making a positive difference to the progress that pupils make. A sense of calm and purpose flows through the school.

The warm and nurturing atmosphere fosters strong relationships between staff and pupils. As a result, pupils feel safe and respected. There is effective support for the high number of pupils who join the school in the early stages of learning to speak English.

Staff ensure that these pupils gain the skills required so that they can access learning. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve well because : leaders make sure that their individual needs are met. Pupils make good progress from their starting points in a wide range of subjects.

Recent improvements to the teaching of writing are not fully embedded. As a result, pupils' progress in writing is inconsistent. Middle leaders have good subject knowledge and demonstrate enthusiasm for their areas of responsibility.

However, most of them are new to the role and are developing the skills they need to be fully effective. From low starting points, children in the early years make strong progress. This is because : leaders identify children's needs early and swiftly put support in place for any children who need to catch up.

However, teachers sometimes do not make best use of the high-quality environment to promote children's reading, writing and number skills. Leaders use the pupil premium funding effectively and, as a result, the progress of disadvantaged pupils is strong. Pupils enjoy school.

Attendance is close to the national average. They behave well and show good attitudes to learning.

Information about this school

This is a much larger than average-sized primary school.

Almost all pupils are from minority ethnic groups. Pupils of Pakistani heritage make up the largest group in the school. A high proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils with SEND is broadly average. The number of pupils who receive support through the pupil premium funding is above the national average. A large proportion of pupils enter the school at different times of the year than is seen nationally.

Most of these pupils are at the earliest stages of speaking English when they join. There have been significant changes to the leadership team and staffing since the last inspection. The headteacher was unavoidably and temporarily absent during the inspection.