Longton Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

The school is led and managed exceptionally well by a highly effective headteacher and senior leadership team. Together with the full support of all staff and governors, they have ensured that the school has gone from strength to strength since the previous inspection. Governors are very knowledgeable.

They know their school exceptionally well, challenge it to be the best that it can be and are clear about their roles and responsibilities. The school has fully implemented its outstanding new curriculum, which engages and excites pupils and supports their excellent progress well. Pupils' behaviour is of an exceptionally high stand...ard.

They are very considerate towards each other and adults, eager to show how responsible they are, and expert at using their own initiative to find things out for themselves. The quality of teaching is outstanding and has improved since the previous inspection. Teachers and teaching assistants work well together.

They have very high expectations of pupils and constantly challenge them to achieve their very best. The teaching of phonics (linking letters and sounds) is outstanding, and has been so for the last two years. Teachers are very well trained.

They make learning interesting and ensure that pupils help to decide on the themes and topics that they study. Pupils' overall attainment at the end of Key Stage 1 in 2014 was outstanding and their performance in reading and writing was exemplary. For several years overall standards attained by pupils at the end of Key Stage 2 have also been outstanding, and were well above average in all subjects in 2014.

Pupils' performance in mathematics has been outstanding for a number of years. In 2014 a much higher than average proportion attained the highest possible Level 6 in this subject. The attainment of pupils with special educational needs is exemplary.

In 2014 it matched that of all pupils nationally. The majority of pupils make good and often outstanding progress throughout the school. This includes disabled pupils, those with special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils.

The overwhelming majority of parents are of the opinion that all aspects of the school are highly effective. All are happy that their children are safe and well cared for. Early years provision is led and managed very well.

The excellent work of teachers and teaching assistants, coupled with the highly positive relationship that staff have with families, help to ensure that children make exceptional progress.

Information about this school

Longton Primary is a broadly average-sized primary school. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs is below average.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils for whom the school receives pupil premium funding is well below average. (The pupil premium is additional funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority.) The overwhelming majority of pupils are White British, and none speak English as an additional language.

Reception provision is full time. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics. A before- and after-school service operate from the site.

These are subject to a separate inspection. Since the previous inspection a number of staff have been appointed, including the early years manager who is new to post, and the governing body has been reorganised. Various refurbishments have taken place which have, for example, enabled the school to relocate its library and provide more space for teaching activities.

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