Hamstead Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school As a result of effective leadership, management and governance, the school's effectiveness has improved since the last inspection and continues to do so. Teaching has improved and is now consistently good.

Work set challenges pupils of varying abilities. Pupils across the school achieve well as a result, particularly in reading and mathematics. Standards of attainment have risen considerably in the last two years and are now much higher than average by the end of Year 6.

Pupils are well prepared for secondary school. Pupils enjoy learning at Hamstead. The curriculum motivates pupils well.

Disadvantaged pupils achieve well, owing ...to the effective use of the pupil premium funding. Pupils are well-behaved, polite, considerate and respectful. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness is well developed.

Attendance has improved. Most pupils now attend regularly. Secure relationships between adults and pupils ensure that pupils feel safe at all times.

Arrangements to ensure that pupils are kept safe are effective. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils do not do as well in writing as they do in reading and mathematics. Pupils do not use and apply their grammar, punctuation and spelling skills in all their writing.

The progress of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is not consistently good. The quality of support from teaching assistants varies. Leaders' checks on pupils' writing and on the performance of teaching assistants lack rigour.

Information about this school

Hamstead Junior is similar to an average-sized primary school. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils supported by the pupil premium is rising and is above the national average. The pupil premium is additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those looked after by the local authority.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is rising and is well above average. Approximately one third of the pupils are White British, with Indian pupils making up the largest other group. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is rising and is well above average.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is above the national average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for attainment and progress. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.