Knebworth Primary and Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The school is improving through the headteacher's determined leadership and his relentless focus on securing better teaching.

The strong and effective governing body shares the headteacher's ambitions for the school. It continually challenges him to bring about further improvements. Teaching is increasingly of a high quality, particularly in Years 5 and 6.

Teachers use inventive methods to catch pupils' attention and stimulate their imaginations. Teachers provide many opportunities for pupils to evaluate their own work. Increasingly they use clear criteria to assess their own and others' work cooperatively.

More-able pupils rece...ive a high level of challenge in lessons and through additional programmes such as extension sessions before school. Subjects are linked imaginatively to provide rich, interesting and enjoyable experiences every day. The promotion of the pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development runs through the fabric of school life.

This accounts for the high degree of respect between adults and pupils and amongst pupils themselves. Pupils' excellent behaviour in lessons and around the school means the school is a happy and welcoming place. Pupils have a very clear understanding how to keep themselves safe.

Pupils are strongly committed to learning, as shown by their high attendance and participation in lessons before school. They continually challenge themselves to improve. The way pupils collaborate when working on tasks or discussing ideas contributes greatly to their good and at times outstanding learning.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : In a small number of lessons teachers do not push learning forward fast enough. Pupils are not always given time to respond to their teachers' comments in their marking. At times, teachers do not use the outdoor areas in the Nursery, Reception and Year 1 classes to promote all areas of learning.

Information about this school

The school is larger than most primary schools. Almost all pupils are from White British backgrounds. The school receives pupil premium funding for a below-average proportion of the pupils.

This is extra government funding given to schools for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those in local authority care. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is below average, as is the proportion supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.