Highfields Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils' achievement is high. Children get off to an excellent start in Nursery and Reception and make rapid and sustained progress as they move through the school.

Irrespective of their ability and backgrounds, pupils achieve extremely well because the quality of teaching is outstanding. Teachers and other adults have high expectations of all pupils and successfully instil in them a love of learning. The teaching of English and mathematics is highly effective.

Pupils, including those who speak English as an additional language, are well equipped to use their reading and writing skills to great effect across other subjects. Pupils...' attitudes to learning are of a high standard because the provision for their personal development is excellent. All adults consciously promote respect for cultural diversity.

Behaviour is excellent and it fully contributes to pupils' learning and progress in lessons. Parents are unhesitatingly positive about behaviour and relationships at school. Pupils feel very safe at school and they are acutely aware of their own and others' safety.

The determined headteacher and other senior and subject leaders lead by example. Together, they have been extremely successful in pushing for the highest levels of pupils' achievement and their personal development since the school's previous inspection. The school has been highly successful in engaging with parents.

They appreciate the ease with which they can approach staff and are confident that they will be listened to. A few pupils who are being supported through extra pupil premium funding still have a little more catching up to do with their peers.

Information about this school

This is a larger-than-average primary school, which has part-time provision for children of Nursery age and two full-time classes for children of Reception age.

The proportion of pupils who are supported by pupil premium funding is well above average. This is extra funding provided by the government to support certain groups of pupils. In this school it applies only to pupils known to be eligible for free school meals.

Pupils come from a wide range of minority ethnic groups, with very few who are White British. Those of Indian background are by far the largest group. Nearly nine in ten pupils speak English as an additional language, a proportion that is well above the national average.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is average. The proportion supported at school action plus or who have a statement of special educational needs is below average. A larger-than-average proportion of pupils join or leave the school part way through their primary education.

The school meets the government's current floor standard, which is the minimum expected for pupils' attainment and progress at the age of 11. The school has experienced staff changes since its last inspection. Three newly qualified teachers joined the school at the beginning of this term.