Lutton St Nicholas Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Pupils now make good progress from the early years through to the end of Year 6. This means that attainment is rising across the school.

Year 1 pupils reached above-average standards in the national phonics (the link between sounds and letters) screening check in 2015. The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good. Leaders provide good support for teachers to improve their practice.

This has raised pupils' achievement over time. Children in the early years achieve well. They make good progress and consistently outperform their peers nationally.

A high proportion achieves a good level of development in readiness for Yea...r 1 learning. School leaders have made good use of external support and partnership advice. This has improved the quality of subject leadership to the good standard now seen.

Subject leaders make regular checks on the quality of teaching in their areas and identify how this helps pupils to make good progress. Behaviour is good, both in and out of lessons. Pupils enjoy learning and attendance has risen to above the national average.

The school's caring ethos and 'family' feel makes pupils feel they are cared for well. New joiners are made to feel welcome and quickly settle in. Additional government funding for disadvantaged pupils is used effectively.

The small number of pupils in Year 6 outperformed their classmates in mathematics, writing, spelling, punctuation and grammar tests last year. Governors use their excellent knowledge of the school to make regular checks on how the quality of teaching is improving pupils' outcomes. Safeguarding is effective.

Designated leads make sure that all practices are secure and that this remains a high priority for all staff and ensures that pupils feel and are safe. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The school's programme for enhancing the learning of the most able pupils has not been in place long enough to have a strong impact on these pupils' achievements. Pupils have limited experiences and awareness of the diversity of modern Britain.

Information about this school

The school is much smaller than the average-sized primary school but the number of pupils on roll has increased since the last inspection. The school is in a federation with Gedney Church End Primary School. The two schools are led by the executive headteacher and a single governing body.

Most pupils are of White British heritage and speak English as their first language. The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged and, therefore, eligible for support through the pupil premium is below average. The pupil premium is additional government funding to support pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are in the care of the local authority.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is well below average. A slightly higher proportion of pupils than is seen nationally join and leave the school part way through the year. The early years consists of children in the Reception year.

Beyond Year 2, all pupils are taught in one of two mixed-age classes, each covering two year groups. The school forms part of a collaborative partnership of seven schools locally. The school runs a daily breakfast club which is overseen by the governing body.

There were too few pupils in Year 6 to qualify for the government's floor standards. These are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.