Larkholme Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The school has been through a turbulent time. There has been a rapid turnaround since Easter. The recently re-formed senior leadership team has made quick improvements.

It has shaped a culture of openness, honesty and higher expectations. Pupils make good progress in writing, mathematics, geography and history. Pupils want to come to school and they attend well because what they learn is interesting and fun.

Teaching in physical education (PE) is particularly effective. Most pupils behave and respond well to adults' instructions. They feel safe.

They are active at breaktimes and know how to stay healthy. Disadvantaged pupils do n...ot achieve well. This is because leaders, including governors, do not use the additional funding well enough to enable pupils to make good progress.

Leaders have commissioned an external review and have already put good systems in place to support this group of pupils more effectively. Reading requires improvement because the books that some pupils read do not match their abilities. The opportunities to read in other subjects are underdeveloped.

Pupils' reading comprehension skills, although improving quickly, are not good. Pupils' attainment in reading has been below average but is now improving. A recent change has enabled the subject and middle leaders to be more effective.

Leaders have transformed teaching, learning and particularly assessment, which is now accurate. Most parents and carers are much happier with what the school provides than they have been in the past. Communication between school and home is improving quickly.

Leaders have made improvements to the curriculum but they know there is more work to do, particularly in French. They know that the curriculum needs to be broadened so that pupils learn about a wider range of cultures and are better prepared for life in modern Britain. They have already planned improvement to increase pupils' understanding of British values.

Leaders make good use of the funding to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They also make effective use of the PE and sport premium. Leaders have made important changes to early years.

Children in Reception get off to a good start. They are taught to read and write well. They make good progress because of an improved range of well-designed activities.

The improved environment inspires children's imagination and learning.

Information about this school

The headteacher is absent with a long-term illness. Since Easter, the school has been led and managed by the deputy headteacher and an associate headteacher.

Approximately one quarter of pupils have been identified as disadvantaged, close to the national average for primary schools. The overwhelming majority of pupils are White British. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average at approximately 14%.

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