Highgate Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Progress is good throughout the school, and attainment is above average by the end of Year 2 in writing and mathematics.

Pupils behave well because the rules are made clear. Pupils feel safe and enjoy school. The good and sometimes outstanding teaching means that pupils learn quickly and remember what they have learned.

Teachers are very good at explaining new work so that pupils understand what to do. They say how teachers make their lessons fun and help them when they find the work hard. Pupils have many opportunities to practise their reading, writing and number work in all subjects.

Parents speak highly of the way the school... keeps them informed of its work and their children's progress. The good leadership and management are keys to the school's success and improving standards. The school uses its pupil premium funding very effectively to support disadvantaged pupils, and they attain at least as well as others in school.

Teachers value the annual reviews of their performance that help raise achievement. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Progress in reading is not as fast as in writing and mathematics. The teaching of phonics, when pupils learn how to build sounds into words, is not always good enough to ensure that pupils make the best possible progress.

A minority of pupils have too many absences and this adversely affects their progress.

Information about this school

The school is much smaller than the average primary school. The proportion of the pupils eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for children in local authority care and pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, is well above average.

An increasing number of pupils join the school from Eastern European countries and the proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is above average. The proportions of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs who are supported through school action and school action plus or through a statement of special educational needs are above average. The school has recently achieved the High Quality Physical Education Mark and the Investors in Families award.