Holly Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Strong leadership and management, especially of teaching and learning, have successfully improved the quality of teaching and raised pupils' achievement. Standards are rising quickly. Children are given a flying start in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

By the time they leave Year 6, pupils have achieved well. Pupils' progress through Key Stage 2, which had been lagging behind, has improved considerably, especially in Years 5 and 6. This year's Year 6 cohort is on track to have made outstanding progress from their starting points in Year 1.

Teaching is good. Careful planning includes a variety of activities designed to maintain... pupils' interest and help them to think hard. Pupils feel safe in school and they behave well.

Their attitudes to learning are exemplary at times. Pupils say that they enjoy coming to school because their teachers help them a lot. The vibrant provision for music and drama has a highly beneficial effect on pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and on their enjoyment of learning.

Governors know how good the school can become and challenge leaders determinedly to continue improvement. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Although excellent practice is beginning to be shared, this has not yet ensured outstanding teaching. While there is excellent marking and guidance in English, that for some other subjects, including mathematics, is not as effective.

Some of the school written policies are not tailored well enough to Holly Primary to effectively underpin the good practice evident in school.

Information about this school

This is a larger than average-sized primary school in which most pupils are White British. The proportion of pupils supported by pupil premium funding is below average.

(The pupil premium is additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority). The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is below average. This includes pupils supported by school action.

Similarly, a below average proportion of pupils are supported by school action plus or have a statement of special educational needs. The school meets the current floor standard, which is the government's minimum expectation for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics at the end of Year 6. A breakfast club and an after-school care club are provided for pupils during term time.