Kates Hill Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils' achievement has improved since the previous inspection and pupils currently in the school make consistently good progress in reading, writing and mathematics in all year groups.

Pupils join the school with skills and knowledge that are below those expected for their age and last year Year 6 left the school with standards that were average. All groups of pupils, including those eligible for the pupil premium, disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs make good progress in line with their peers. Teaching is consistently good, as a result of highly effective training and support given by school leaders.

Engaging a...nd interesting activities in lessons enable most pupils to learn quickly. Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. They enjoy school and are keen to learn.

They feel safe in school. The inspirational leadership of the headteacher ensures that all staff have high expectations of what pupils can achieve. Governors and leaders have clear plans to improve this good school.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : In the Early Years Foundation Stage, teachers do not always make it clear what the learning focus is for each activity. This means that some activities are either too easy or too hard for children to learn from. Some pupils rush into answering questions without having the time to reflect on their answer in order to give as much detail as they can.

Pupils do not act upon the written comments in their mathematics work as a matter of routine. There are not enough opportunities for pupils from all age groups to use and apply their number skills to solve problems. Governors and school leaders do not analyse the impact of the additional funding for pupil premium and sport in sufficient depth.

Information about this school

This is a larger-than-average sized primary school, where the majority of pupils are from a Pakistani background. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is above average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported through school action is below average.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average. The proportion of pupils who are eligible for the pupil premium (additional funding from the government to support pupils who are looked after by the local authority or who are eligible for free school meals) is above average. The Early Years Foundation Stage consists of two Nursery classes (a morning and an afternoon session) and two Reception classes.

Last year approximately two thirds of children from the Nursery stayed in school for the Reception year. There have been many staff changes since the previous inspection. The acting headteacher was appointed to the post permanently in May 2013.

Six of the 14 teachers who were at the school during the last inspection have left. There is a daily breakfast club, for up to 30 pupils, which is managed by the governing body. The school met the government floor standards in 2013, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics.