Haughton St Giles CofE Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The attainment of pupils throughout the school is consistently above average in writing, reading and mathematics, and continues to rise. Most pupils make good progress, frequently better than that expected nationally.

This is because teaching is consistently good throughout the school, and supports the good achievement of pupils. Pupils are enthusiastic learners and enjoy school. They are well cared for and safe, and behave well in classrooms and around the school.

Teachers have high expectations, set many demanding activities, and strongly encourage pupils to learn effectively on their own and with others. School leaders have successful...ly promoted much more rigorous monitoring of teaching, which has resulted in a noticeable improvement in the learning outcomes of pupils. Pupils benefit from an extensive range of activities during the day, especially in science, music and drama.

This successfully enhances their good spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The governing body is fully involved in improving the school's performance and rigorously hold senior leaders to account. The school is led effectively by a thoughtful and considerate headteacher, who is well supported by other senior managers.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Although most pupils thrive on high levels of challenge, some, often those who find learning difficult, cannot always keep up with the pace being set by teachers. Teachers and other adults do not check the progress and understanding of this group of pupils often enough, especially when they are working on their own. Teachers' marking of pupils' work, although improved, does not pay sufficient attention to presentation.

As a result, the work of some pupils is not always of sufficiently good quality. Basic errors in punctuation and spelling in pupils' writing across a range of subjects are not corrected consistently enough.

Information about this school

Haughton St Giles CofE (C) Primary School is smaller than the average-sized primary school.

Nearly all pupils are White British, the remainder coming from a small range of other ethnic heritages. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special needs who are supported by school action is below average. The proportion of pupils supported by school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for support through pupil premium funding (the additional funds provided by the government) is lower than the national average. The school meets the current government floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. In the Early Years Foundation Stage, a small number of part-time Nursery children join the Reception class in mornings and afternoons.

The main school is organised into seven single-aged classes in the mornings. In the afternoons there are six mixed-aged classes. The proportion of pupils who join or leave the school at other than the usual times is higher than average.

There have been several recent changes of teaching staff. There is privately managed childcare, the 'Starz', on the school site before, during and after the school day. It was not included in the inspection.