Flamstead End School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

Achievement is outstanding because pupils make excellent progress and attainment is well above average by Year 6 in reading, writing and mathematics. Disadvantaged pupils make outstanding progress and so their attainment matches that of the others. The most able pupils make marvellous progress.

For example, in 2014 nearly three-quarters of Year 6 pupils gained higher Level 5 results in mathematics. Pupils who are disabled or who have special educational needs achieve outstandingly well and last year many caught up with the rest of Year 6. Nearly all those who did not have a statement of special educational needs attained the stan...dard expected for this age in reading, writing and mathematics.

Children in nursery and reception classes get off to a flying start and different groups of children progress very well in key areas of learning and especially in literacy. Teaching is outstanding because teachers expect a lot from each pupil. Staff plan interesting activities which ensure pupils gain a great deal of new knowledge every day.

Occasionally feedback from staff is not specific and so a few pupils do not know how to improve their work. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding and they are extremely thoughtful. Parents, staff and governors all agree that behaviour is excellent.

Pupils are keen to do well and they concentrate very effectively in lessons. This is because staff develop positive relationships with pupils and support them really successfully to work together. Attendance is above average and pupils are rarely late for school.

This is because leaders check up on these aspects carefully. Pupils feel safe in school and know how to keep themselves safe on the internet because of valuable advice given by teachers. Outstanding leadership from the headteacher, deputy headteacher and governors means the school is always looking for ways to improve pupils' progress.

Since the academy opened, significant improvement has been made to the rate of progress made by disadvantaged pupils. This is because teaching is even better. Senior and subject leaders watch achievement exceptionally well and so gaps in pupils' knowledge and understanding are filled.

The Speech and Language Unit is led thoughtfully and so pupils make good progress in key areas of learning. Parents, staff and leaders work very successfully together. Parents are confident that teaching and care for their children are particularly strong.

Information about this school

Flamstead End School converted to become an academy school on 4 April 2013. When its predecessor school, which had been called Flamstead End Primary and Nursery School, was last inspected by Ofsted, it was judged to be good overall. The academy is larger than the average-sized primary school.

Most pupils are White British, a quarter are from minority ethnic groups and one in ten speak English as an additional language. At around one quarter, an average proportion of disadvantaged pupils are supported by the pupil premium funding. This is additional funding for pupils in the care of the local authority and those known to be eligible for free school meals.

About one in ten pupils are disabled or have special educational needs. This proportion is average. The school has a specially resourced provision for pupils with speech and language difficulties for up to ten children between the ages of four and seven years.

The school calls it the Speech and Language Unit. Early Years provision is full-time for reception children and part-time for nursery children. The school has a children's centre on the school site.

There is a pre-school for two to three-year-olds open five days a week during term-time from 8.45-11.45 and 12.

30-15.30. A breakfast club is run from 7.

45-9.00 and an after-school club is run from 3.15-6.

00. None of these settings were part of this inspection because they are all managed separately. The academy meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Year 6.

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