Harmondsworth Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

Harmondsworth is a good school.

The previous inspection also judged the school to be good. When pupils enter the school in the Early Years Foundation Stage their abilities are below those expected for their age and well below in communication, language and literacy skills. By the time they leave in Year 6 their overall attainment is well above the national average because the significant majority of the teaching is good or outstanding.

The pupils make consistently good progress as they move through the school, especially in English where progress has been significantly above expectations over the last three years. Progress in mathematics is good overall but lacks consistency between year group...s. Progress in reading is good.

Pupils enjoy reading and have above average attainment when they leave the school. The quality of teaching is good because it is monitored rigorously by senior leaders and appropriate support provided when necessary. Although most pupils do well in reading, the programme that links the teaching of sounds to letters (phonics) lacks sufficient structure and further staff training in this area has been planned by the school leaders.

The pupils' behaviour is exemplary in lessons because they are motivated by the work planned for them and consequently they enjoy learning. The senior leaders are very well supported by the experienced and knowledgeable members of the governing body who challenge the leaders of the school to maintain the drive for improvement. The school promotes spiritual, moral, social and cultural development exceptionally well.

The school leadership has worked hard to involve parents and carers in their children's learning and in the life of the school. As a result, they were almost unanimous in their praise of the school in their responses to all aspects of the questionnaire.

Information about the school

Harmondsworth Primary is an average sized primary school.

Pupils come from a range of backgrounds with 14 different ethnic groups represented, although the majority are of White British heritage. About 15% of the pupils learn English as an additional language, which is average. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is broadly average.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is well above average and the majority of these have speech, language and communication difficulties. The school has gained the Healthy Schools status, the Activemark award and the Silver Eco School award. The school meets the current performance floor standard set by the government.

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