Goldfinch Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Goldfinch is a school where pupils are extremely keen to learn and do well.

Leaders have created a positive environment that ensures pupils are safe. Pupils enjoy learning and taking risks because they say that teachers give them 'a chance to succeed'. Leaders work in close partnership with the trust, governors and the whole school community.

They are diligent in driving their commitment to achieving excellence. Parents and carers are very positive about the improvements that leaders have made.

Behaviour is exemplary.

The expectations of pupils' conduct are commonly understood and consistently applied by staff. Pupils display high levels of positive ...attitudes to learning. They know and understand what bullying is.

They know to approach a trusted adult, whom they believe will always deal with their concerns. School records show that bullying is a rare occurrence.

Pupils appreciate the opportunities to go on educational trips.

This helps them to make sense of what they are learning and make connections across subjects. They enjoy raising funds for charities and for buying books to add to their attractive book corners. They enjoy taking part in clubs such as those for film, drama and skateboarding.

They explore subjects such as science and art at a deeper level as part of a partnership programme at a local secondary school.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders share the ambition that every child should receive an excellent education 'without exception'. They have transformed the curriculum and planned blocks of the essential knowledge and skills for pupils to learn in all subjects.

This is providing pupils with strong foundations and enriching experiences. Subject leaders support teachers in delivering the curriculum with increasing consistency. This needs further work and time to become fully embedded.

Experts from the trust collaborate with staff to assess work in pupils' books. This scrutiny shows that teachers could stretch further those pupils who say that they welcome and enjoy challenging work.

Leaders promote the view that 'if pupils cannot read, they cannot learn'.

They prioritise the teaching of phonics and reading. Children in Nursery explore sounds in the environment. Teachers use a range of resources to model new sounds well.

Staff help pupils to become familiar with sounds by revising and rehearsing them in lessons and catch-up sessions. Pupils use books that match the sounds they have learned. They proudly wear 'bookworm' badges celebrating the number of books they have read for pleasure.

They win awards in local reading competitions for showing well-developed comprehension skills.

Leaders have invested significantly in developing the early years outdoor area. Staff use these vibrant spaces well in offering rich learning experiences.

They develop children's skills through practical exploration and meaningful tasks. They interact effectively with children. Staff capture the children's achievement, including next steps of learning, and train them in knowing what they can do well.

In mathematics, teachers give pupils time to practise their skills. Staff inspire mathematical thinking, starting in early years. They use questioning to probe children's understanding and foster their learning of number.

In some cases, teachers do not move on quickly enough those pupils who show confidence in what they know. Leaders recognise this. They have plans in place to empower staff in perceiving when to deepen pupils' knowledge during lessons.

Relationships among staff and pupils are extremely positive. They show respect towards each other. Pupils concentrate with intensity in lessons and without disruptions.

They take immense pride in their achievements. They freely ask adults for help in relation to their learning or should they ever feel bullied.

Leaders promote the development of pupils' cultural heritage and values.

Pupils develop characteristic traits, including confidence and resilience. They are knowledgeable about world current affairs. Year 6 pupils have a thorough understanding of racism and how to tackle it.

Staff prepare pupils well for transition into secondary school.

Support staff are well deployed. They scaffold and adapt learning to meet the needs of pupils.

The school has a consistent approach of defining key vocabulary and using stem sentences in lessons. This contributes to pupils understanding and accessing learning well, especially those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and those who speak English as an additional language. Pupils with SEND speak with great appreciation of the support they receive.

They rightly describe the difference this makes to the way they learn and live.

The trust and governors have been instrumental and relentless in their pursuit of the school's 'excellence plan'. They have made significant strides in improving the provision for pupils.

This includes recruiting skilled teachers committed to realising leaders' high expectations. Staff access professional development that extends their technical knowledge of subject disciplines. Leaders have regard for staff workload.

They make necessary adjustments when considering staff well-being. Staff show a strong devotion in wanting to increase the engagement of parents and carers and families in the life of the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff know and understand the risks that pupils face online, at school, at home and in the local community. Leaders work hard in being proactive and responsive to helping those in need. Staff are well trained in identifying and addressing needs with urgency.

Pupils gave inspectors a range of examples of how to stay safe. For instance, one pupil understood the meaning of 'consent' as, 'not letting anyone make you do anything that you do not want to.'

Staff, including trained counsellors, teach pupils how to manage their emotions and feelings.

Pupils appreciate the support they receive from therapists. They say it helps in dealing with their emotions and feelings.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Leaders have transformed the foundation subjects and the curriculum.

Work given to pupils often matches the aims that leaders have identified. Leaders are moving with speed towards the coherent delivery of the curriculum. This is not embedded in a consistent way at this stage.

Leaders should continue to develop subject leadership in implementing the curriculum. This will help pupils to securely gain the knowledge and skills they need as they progress through the school. ? Teachers show sound skills in recognising and filling the gaps in pupils' learning.

At times, they lack confidence in moving pupils on who show that they are ready to extend or deepen their understanding. Leaders are aware of this. They should continue to empower teachers in using their professional judgement, especially in the timing of intervening or in using strategies to deepen pupils' understanding.

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