Great Linford Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher has created a happy school full of ambition and aspiration. She is supported exceptionally well by staff who share her vision of excellence. All work tirelessly together to ensure that pupils have a successful school experience.

Governors are equally committed to the school. They use their skills and knowledge well to hold leaders to account. They work systematically to ensure they have a secure understanding of the school's effectiveness.

Staff are proud to be part of the school and benefit from excellent support and training. Consequently, many have been promoted to leadership roles in other schools and some provide supp...ort to the local authority. Leaders have ensured that teaching, learning and assessment remain good overall, despite staff turnover.

Staff new to the school and the profession are supported very well to develop their skills. Leaders and governors have ensured that pupils benefit from a rich curriculum that supports their academic, social and emotional growth and development. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development is supported exceptionally well.

This underpins much of the work of the school. Current pupils make strong progress overall. By the end of key stage 2, pupils attain highly and make excellent progress in reading and mathematics and good progress in writing.

Pupils are proud of their learning. However, expectations for pupils' presentation of their work, including handwriting, are inconsistent. Pupils behave exceptionally well.

A culture of respect permeates the school and pupils thrive on this. They take pride in being considerate and demonstrating thoughtful behaviours. Children in the early years make good progress in all aspects of their learning and development, including phonics.

They are prepared well for their transition to Year 1. Safeguarding is effective. Leaders provide a wide range of training and information to support staff, parents and carers.

Disadvantaged pupils benefit from well-considered provision that targets their barriers to learning. Consequently, they make rapid progress and attain well across the curriculum. Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is also very strong.

Pupils with SEND do well and make rapid progress. Parents are unanimous in their praise for the school and its staff.

Information about this school

Great Linford Primary School is a larger-than-average-sized primary school for pupils aged four to 11.

Early years and key stage 1 are one-and-a-half-form entry. Approximately 15 pupils join the school at the start of key stage 2 each year, making this key stage two-form entry. The headteacher joined the school in 2013, following the previous section 5 inspection.

All teaching staff have changed since then, many learning support assistants have changed. The current deputy headteacher was appointed in 2017. The governing body has also changed since the previous section 5 inspection.

The proportions of disadvantaged pupils and pupils looked after are greater than the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is greater than the national average. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds.