Great Leighs Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. This is a rapidly improving school as a result of effective leadership by the headteacher, and the good support from the deputy headteacher.

Additional adults who help to support pupils' learning are highly effective and a strength of the school. Pupils have very positive attitudes to their learning and are extremely proud of their school. Relationships throughout the school are excellent and parents are very pleased with what the school provides for their children.

Pupils are now making good progress in all year groups and attainment is rising in reading, writing and mathematics. Teaching is typically good with aspects now excellent, pa...rticularly in writing, because of regular and rigorous checking by the headteacher and other leaders. Teaching in Year 6 is outstanding.

Pupils' behaviour in lessons and around the school is good and often excellent. Pupils feel safe in school. There have been no exclusions.

Governors are effective partners in leading the school and offer a high level of challenge to the school's performance. It is not yet an outstanding school because : More-able pupils do not reach the higher levels in mathematics as consistently as they do in reading and writing. Children's learning in the Reception class is not as well developed as it should be because : the outdoor learning area is unappealing and children have not been trained in how best to use this facility to develop their learning to the full.

Tasks which recognise that pupils are now making more rapid progress and therefore working at a higher level than in the past are not yet consistently provided by all teachers. Whilst marking is greatly improved, the marking by some teachers is not focused enough to show pupils how they can improve.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school.

The majority of the pupils are White British. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium funding (additional money given to schools for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, children looked after by the local authority and some others) is much lower than average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported through school action is lower than average.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is higher average. The school met the government's floor standards in 2013, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics. The headteacher was appointed in September 2012.