Marvels Lane Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher, deputy and senior leaders have worked effectively with the governing body to address the areas for improvement that were identified at the time of the previous inspection. Together with staff, they have made sure that pupils' outcomes have improved.

Leaders and governors have improved the quality of teaching, learning and assessment so that it is good. Pupils enjoy the interesting activities teachers plan. Leaders have introduced a marking policy that helps pupils to improve their learning.

Rates of progress have increased from Nursery to Year 6. Standards by the end of Year 2, a priority for development, have risen. More... pupils than in the past reach the expected standard in the Year 1 phonics (the link between letters and sounds) screening check.

Children are happy and sociable in the early years provision. Leaders have successfully increased the proportion of children who reach the expected standard overall at the end of the Reception Year. Pupils' personal development, behaviour and welfare are good.

Pupils behave sensibly and follow teachers' instructions so that no time is wasted in lessons. Older pupils are keen to take on roles of responsibility to help the younger ones at breaktimes. Pupils have a good knowledge of how to keep themselves safe.

Leaders now check the quality of teaching very regularly. Effective guidance on how to improve further has helped to increase the quality of teaching, learning and assessment. Governors are confident to challenge the school's leaders.

They check carefully that initiatives are securing the necessary improvements to the school's overall effectiveness. It is not yet an outstanding school because : At the end of the Reception Year, outcomes for boys are not as strong as for girls. Occasionally, work is not challenging enough for the most able pupils, or is too difficult for others.

Leaders have successfully raised pupils' attendance rates over recent years but the proportion of pupils who are persistently absent is still above the national average.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized primary school. The proportion speaking English as an additional language is above average.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is similar to the national average. More disadvantaged pupils are supported by the pupil premium (additional government funding to give extra support to those known to be eligible for free school meals and to children who are looked after) than the national average. In 2015, the school met the government's current floor standards.

The school provides part-time early years provision for children in two Nursery classes and full-time provision for children in two Reception classes. There are two classes in each year group except in the current Year 2 where there are three classes. The school organises and manages breakfast and after-school provision.

The school organises a breakfast club. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. Marvels Lane Children's Centre that shares the school site is not part of the school and was not included in this inspection.