Halifax Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The leadership of the headteacher and deputy headteacher has driven rapid improvement in key areas of the school's work over the last three years. Outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics have all improved.

Pupils achieve well and make good progress from their different starting points in every key stage. Most teaching effectively supports good progress. Based on high expectations, good subject knowledge and excellent feedback for pupils, much of the teaching inspires and motivates them.

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. Pupils are given an excellent understanding of the world of work. Pupils enjoy sch...ool and feel safe and cared for.

They are polite, respectful and keen to learn The personal development of pupils is good. They are confident, and enjoy challenges in their learning. Governance of the school is strong.

Governors know their school well and regularly visit to see how the school is doing. They provide rigorous challenge to the headteacher. Partnerships with parents are effective.

Parents are welcome into school and feel teachers will always listen when they have concerns. Provision in the early years is good. Leaders and teachers respond well to the differing needs of every child.

The learning environment has been carefully planned to support good progress. The teaching of early letters and sounds (phonics) is particularly effective. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils' achievement in reading, although good, is not as strong as it is in writing and mathematics.

Opportunities to share the best teaching in school have not yet ensured that progress is consistently outstanding. In Key Stage 2, too few disadvantaged pupils reach the highest levels. Sometimes, pupils do not make the progress that they could because teachers' expectations are not high enough, or because their subject knowledge is not strong enough.

Information about this school

Halifax Primary School is larger than the average-sized primary school. The large majority of pupils are White British. A much lower than average proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged is average. These pupils are supported through the pupil premium funding, which is additional government funding provided to support pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals or who are looked after by the local authority. The proportion of disabled pupils or pupils with special educational needs is well above average.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. Leaders at Halifax Primary School provide support for a range of schools in the teaching of phonics and spelling, grammar and punctuation. In addition they provide support for the newly qualified teachers in other schools.