Marden Bridge Middle School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher took up his post shortly before the previous inspection.

Since then he has provided strong leadership and this has directly resulted in higher expectations among staff. He has solid support from the whole school community. The areas for improvement from the previous inspection have been addressed systematically.

As a result, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment has improved and is now good. Pupils' outcomes are good. In most subject areas pupils succeed regardless of their starting point or background.

Consequently, their attainment is well above expectations by the time they leave at the end of Year 8.... A new system of assessing pupils' knowledge and understanding has been introduced and this provides teachers with an accurate view of the progress pupils are making. Pupils are polite and courteous both in lessons and around the school site.

There is little disruptive behaviour and when it does occur it is dealt with well by staff. Pupils are able to thrive because they are well looked after and feel safe. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good throughout the school.

Pupils make full use of the extensive sports facilities and enjoy a good range of activities. Senior leaders are thoroughly involved in checking the quality of teaching and they have high expectations. As a result, middle leadership has improved and a strong emphasis is now placed on improving teaching within subject teams.

Governors have developed their skills and have a good understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. It is not yet an outstanding school because : There is still some variation in the quality of teaching across the school. As a result, pupils do not make good progress in all subjects.

Departments, such as English, do not share widely enough their good practice. Some disadvantaged pupils do not make the same good progress as other pupils in the school. Pupils do not develop their writing skills sufficiently in subjects other than English.

Homework tasks sometimes do not interest pupils or extend their learning. In a small minority of lessons, pupils are not motivated and do not learn at the rate they should.

Information about this school

This middle-deemed secondary school has pupils in Years 5 to 8 and is much smaller than the average-sized secondary school.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is in line with the national average. The pupil premium is additional government funding given to schools for those known to be eligible for free school meals and for looked after children. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is above the national average.

Since the previous inspection, a new chair of the governing body has been appointed and significant staffing changes have been made to the leadership team. Support for the school is provided by a national leader of education from Benton Dene Primary School. The school works closely with a family of local schools as a member of the 'Whitley Bay Pyramid' group of schools.

A very small number of pupils attend off-site provision at Moorbridge School on a temporary basis. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6.