Leek First School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher, other leaders and governors took effective action to deal with weaknesses that were highlighted at the last inspection.

Staff at all levels fully support the drive for improvement. There have been rapid improvements in teaching and in outcomes for pupils. Gaps in achievement between disadvantaged pupils and others have narrowed considerably.

Pupils make good progress in reading, writing, mathematics and other subjects because teaching is good. Attainment is rising as a result. The early years is a stimulating and inviting environment.

Children make good progress and are well prepared for their next steps. Pupils ...try hard in lessons and persevere even when they find tasks challenging. They are positive, enthusiastic learners.

Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. Their attendance is above average. Staff make sure that pupils are safe at school.

Parents agree that pupils are well cared for. Governors play a prominent part in school life. They hold leaders robustly to account and help shape the school's direction.

Parents are highly supportive of the school. They particularly value its open, friendly and inclusive ethos. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The rate at which differences in achievement between disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs and other pupils are reducing is not consistent from class to class.

This is because of a number of factors, including individual circumstances and minor variations in teaching. Leaders' evaluations of the impact of actions and reports about performance are not sharp or succinct enough. The school's website does not include an

Information about this school

Leek First School has about half the number of pupils as a typical primary school.

Children start in the Reception class full-time. Most of them have attended the Nursery provision that shares the school site. This provision is not managed by the governing body.

There is also a privately run before- and after-school club. Both of these provisions are inspected separately. Pupils stay at the school until the end of Year 4, when they transfer to middle school.

Almost all of the pupils are White British. Just under a third of the pupils are disadvantaged, which is a little above the proportion seen nationally. The school receives additional funding, known as the pupil premium, to support the education of these pupils.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is in line with that seen nationally. The school has received support for the past two years from a local leader of education, who until recently was headteacher of Springfields First School. The school works closely with other first schools in the area, as part of the Leek Education Partnership.

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