Edmund Waller Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils make good progress from their individual starting points so that by the end of Year 6 achievement is good, particularly in reading and writing. The quality of teaching is good so that pupils across all year groups are now making good or better progress. Disabled pupils and those with special educational needs make progress which is as good as other pupils' because of the additional support they receive.

Behaviour is good across the school and pupils say they feel safe. Pupils say they enjoy their lessons and want to be successful in their learning. Children in the Nursery and Reception enjoy a range of activities which capture the...ir interests and help them to develop their basic literacy skills.

There are strong links with parents and carers who value being involved in the learning experiences of their children. The executive headteacher and with the head of school have been very effective in improving the quality of teaching so that there are rapid gains in pupils' progress. Governors have ensured that the restructuring of the school leadership and management has led to improvements in pupils' achievement.

They have a clear focus on further developing the school's performance. It is not yet an outstanding school because: The most-able pupils are not always moved on quickly enough in lessons to more challenging tasks so they can make the best possible progress. Pupils do not have sufficient opportunities to apply their mathematical skills to solving problems.

Teachers' written guidance in their marking does not consistently help pupils understand how to move to the next level in their learning, especially in mathematics.

Information about this school

Edmund Waller Primary School is larger than the average-sized primary school. In the Early Years Foundation Stage there is a Nursery class and two Reception classes.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and those who speak English as an additional language are both high when compared to the national average. The proportion of pupils receiving support from the pupil premium funding, which is the extra government support for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, looked after children and those from service families, is above average. In this school, it relates to pupils who are known to qualify for free school meals.

When compared to national figures, the proportions of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs at school action, and those at school action plus or who have a statement of special educational needs, are above average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics. The governing body has recently been reconstituted and the executive headteacher and head of school were appointed in April 2013.