Cranford Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Cranford Primary is improving rapidly. Since the opening of this new school, leaders, governors and staff have worked together with determination to make sure the quality of teaching is good and pupils' achievement is good. Pupils achieve well.

From starting points that are below those expected for their age, pupils make good progress. Attainment at the end of Year 6 is broadly average and rising. Pupils enjoy their learning because teachers plan interesting activities and expect them to complete tasks quickly so that no time is wasted.

Teaching is good; there are examples of high-quality practice. Pupils behave well. They are c...ourteous and polite.

Pupils have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Older pupils enthusiastically take on responsibility to help the younger ones. Senior leaders and governors have high expectations of the quality of teaching and learning.

They set ambitious targets for development. Leaders provide coaching and training for staff to help sustain improvements. Strong leadership has made sure leaders, staff and governors are united as a team and focused sharply on improving the school further.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Daily English and mathematics sessions develop pupils' basic skills well. However, opportunities for reading, writing and mathematics in other lessons are not systematically established to raise attainment further. The part additional adults play in lessons is not always focused sharply on supporting pupils' learning, particularly during whole class teaching.

The proportion of pupils who are persistently absent from school, and therefore miss valuable learning, is higher than the national average.

Information about this school

Cranford Primary School is a much larger than average sized primary school. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught in two part time Nursery classes and three Reception classes.

More pupils than the national average speak English as an additional language. Few of these are at an early stage of learning English and most of those who are at an early stage of learning English are in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is above average.

Pupils from Indian and Pakistani backgrounds are the largest groups. The proportion of pupils who are supported through school action is slightly above the national average. A slightly below average proportion is supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs.

Most of these pupils have behaviour, emotional and social difficulties or speech, language and communication needs. The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives the pupil premium (additional government funding for pupils who are looked after by the local authority, known to be eligible for free school meals and the children of service families) is above the national average. There are currently no children of service families at the school.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The school opened in September 2011, following the merger of Cranford Infant and Junior Schools. The school occupies the site previously occupied by the two schools.

The headteacher of the school was previously the headteacher of the infant school. The school organises and manages breakfast and after-school clubs. The children's centre that shares the school site was not included in this inspection.

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