Mulgrave Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The school is improving rapidly.

Since the previous inspection, leaders, managers, governors and staff have worked successfully together to make sure the quality of teaching and pupils' achievement are good. Pupils achieve well. They make good progress from starting points that are often below expectations for their age.

As a result, attainment at the end of Year 6, which was previously low, has risen and is now average, and rising. Pupils are keen to learn because teachers plan interesting work that captures their interest and motivates them to work hard. Work is set at the right levels of difficulty for most pupils.

Pupils beh...ave well. Their friendly and welcoming attitudes help pupils new to the school to settle quickly. Pupils have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe from harm.

Attendance rates are consistently above average. Leaders at all levels regularly assess the quality of the school's work and rigorously check how well all pupils are making progress in their learning. Leaders set targets for development and provide effective coaching and training for staff to help sustain improvements.

Expectations of the quality of teaching and learning have been raised. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Occasionally, during writing tasks, the work set is not difficult enough for the most able pupils. The proportion of outstanding teaching is not high enough to ensure that all pupils make rapid progress.

Monitoring of individual teachers does not always identify specific priorities for development sharply enough to improve the quality of teaching further.

Information about this school

This is larger than the average-sized primary school. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught in four part-time Nursery classes and two Reception classes.

More pupils than average speak English as an additional language. Few of these pupils are at an early stage of learning English. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is above average.

The proportion of pupils who are supported through school action is below the national average. The proportion supported at school action plus, or with a statement of special educational needs, is above average. Most of these pupils have speech, language and communication needs or behaviour, social and emotional difficulties.

The school has specially resourced provision for up to 20 children aged three to four with special educational needs in speech, language and communication. These children usually attend the specially resourced provision in the Nursery for 10 weeks. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for support through the pupil premium (additional funding provided by the government for pupils looked after by the local authority or known to be eligible for free school meals) is above the national average.

The school meets the current government floor standards which set the minimum expectations for attainment and progress. The number of pupils who join or leave the school part way through their primary education is above the national average. The school organises and manages breakfast and after-school clubs.

There has been a high number of recent staff changes. The children's centre that shares the school site was not included in this inspection. There is no alternative provision linked to the school.