Newtown Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Newtown is a warm and welcoming school.

Pupils benefit from the positive relationships that they have with other pupils and with staff, who care deeply for them.

Pupils behave well. They are kind and respectful.

This makes the school a calm and happy place where everyone can focus on learning. Pupils were eager to share their knowledge with inspectors and said that they enjoy learning new things each day. Pupils say that everyone is treated fairly.

They feel safe at school. If pupils are worried about something, they know that adults will help them.

The school recognised that the ambition for all pupils to achieve to the best of their abilit...y had to be raised.

In most subjects, the high ambition is realised and most pupils achieve well across a range of subjects.

Pupils access a variety of clubs, including a range of different sports, a choir and a mental health club. Pupils enjoy taking on leadership opportunities, including the school's junior leadership team, whose members help to plan events such as a magic show.

Pastoral support for pupils is a strength of the school, ensuring that they receive tailored support as and when they need it.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

In recent years, there have been many improvements made across all aspects of school life. This includes putting in place a curriculum that is ambitious and well organised.

Historically, achievement for pupils at the end of key stage 2 was low. However, the impact of the improved curriculum and higher expectations has led to most pupils achieving outcomes that are at least consistent with national expectations by the end of key stage 2.

Children make a strong start to school in the Nursery and Reception classes.

They settle quickly into routines. Children become curious learners who can concentrate for extended periods. Teachers plan activities that prepare children well for later learning.

Staff identify swiftly any gaps that children may have and put in place effective programmes of support that help develop children's language and personal and social skills.

In almost all subjects, the school has carefully considered the important knowledge that pupils should learn. High-quality training enables teachers to deliver the curriculum consistently well.

Teachers use assessment skilfully, checking pupils' understanding and addressing any misconceptions. They routinely help pupils recall what they already know, so they can make connections with new learning. This results in most pupils developing a deep understanding of the concepts taught.

For example, pupils talked in great depth about their understanding of climate change. They also described, with precision, the many different techniques they have learned in art lessons, inspired by a range of artists.The school identifies the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) swiftly and accurately.

Pupils' support plans have appropriate and manageable targets that are reviewed daily with pupils. Pupils with SEND benefit from a rich curriculum and are well supported to achieve well alongside their peers and within the Hive base that the school has set up to offer more tailored support.

Children learn phonics and early mathematics as soon as they join the school.

All staff are trained well to deliver the programmes. The school has invested in high-quality books for pupils to use as they learn to read. Over time, most pupils become fluent, confident and enthusiastic readers.

However, the school has not done enough to ensure that the support provided for pupils who are falling behind in reading and mathematics is helping them to achieve as well as they should.

The attendance of pupils has improved immensely, particularly for pupils with SEND and other disadvantaged pupils. The school has precise monitoring systems that alert leaders when a pupil's absence becomes a concern.

All staff have a relentless drive to ensure that pupils attend well. They provide effective support to help them to do so and, as a result, most pupils attend well.

The school supports pupils' personal development effectively.

Pupils learn about healthy relationships and how to stay safe online. Pupils accept each other's differences and respect each other. Activities beyond the classroom are carefully considered and an ambitious programme of enrichment and wider development is in place.

This includes a range of after-school clubs that help pupils to develop their talents and interests. However, the full programme of enrichment is in the early stages of implementation and some pupils have not fully benefited from the offer.

Staff are proud to work at the school.

They are grateful for the training and opportunities that they are provided with. The trust staff who collaborate with the school know the school well and provide effective training and support for the school. The best interests of pupils are always at the top of the agenda.

Regular meetings with leaders across all levels, both in school and beyond, have contributed to a strong support network for the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The school has developed a plan for pupils' wider development, including enrichment experiences, educational visits and pupil leadership opportunities.

However, this has not been fully implemented. Some pupils have not been provided with a rich set of experiences that help support their broader development. The school should ensure that pupils benefit from a rich range of experiences to help support their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

• Some pupils who have fallen behind with their reading and mathematics are not catching up quickly enough. They have gaps in their learning. The school should ensure that the quality of additional support pupils receive is effective to enable pupils to gain the skills they need to be well prepared for their next steps.