Milldene Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Milldene Primary has improved significantly since the previous inspection. The school continues to develop at a good pace because of the strong determination of the headteacher, ably assisted by the deputy headteacher.

Governors are more effective than when the school was previously inspected. They have benefited from the local authority's support. The skilled English and mathematics subject leaders drive improvements in the quality of teaching and learning in those subjects.

In other subjects, leadership is in its infancy. Thorough checks of pupils' progress ensure that the tasks they are given are neither too hard nor too easy. As a res...ult, pupils do well in writing and mathematics.

In reading, most pupils also do well. However, some pupils, particularly the most able, try to read books that are too difficult. In science, pupils have too few opportunities to work things out for themselves.

Staff are proud to work at the school. Teachers and learning support assistants form a cohesive team. They benefit from good-quality training.

Classrooms are a hive of purposeful activity because pupils' very positive attitudes to learning mean they approach every new day with a thirst for new knowledge. Staff give pupils' well-being high importance because they believe happy pupils learn best. Pupils' behaviour is good.

Pupils say they feel safe, and that they are well cared for by staff. Good teaching and learning in the early years enable the majority of children to make good progress. They are well prepared for Year 1.

Parents say their children enjoy school. One parent said, 'My daughter says it's not fair school is closed at the weekend.' Parents' support is strong.

Every parent responding to Ofsted's online survey, Parent View, would recommend the school.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. The school is a smaller than average-sized primary school.

There is one class in each year group. The majority of pupils are from White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils supported by pupil premium funding is below average.

The overall proportion of pupils who receive support for their special educational needs and/or disabilities is below average. In 2015, the school met the government's floor standards, which are the minimum expectations of pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 6. The school operates a before- and after-school club, five days a week.