Oakham Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The high expectations of the headteacher, shared by all leaders and governors, have empowered teachers to make improvements so that teaching across the school is consistently good with much that is outstanding. Pupils make excellent progress across the school because teachers plan tasks that motivate pupils and enable them to meet and exceed the challenging targets set for their work.

Attainment in reading has been consistently above the national average at the end of Year 6. Mathematics has risen strongly since a dip in 2011 and is now well above the national average and writing is steadily improving so that it is above the national aver...age. Pupils behave exceptionally well; they are very polite and well-mannered.

They work extremely well together and so live up to the school's mission statement of 'succeeding together'. Pupils feel very safe, play well together and are very confident that adults will always help them. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent.

Pupils reflect on their work and their place in the world and have mature discussions about faith, values and issues that they may face. The broad range of subjects and topics studied is highly effective in ensuring excellent progress in reading, writing and mathematics. The extremely well resourced Early Years Foundation Stage, especially the outside area, gives children an excellent start to school.

All leaders have been effective in making improvements in the quality of teaching through mentoring and coaching. This has resulted in improving standards, particularly in mathematics and writing. It has also ensured that more pupils make progress that is better than might be expected in reading, writing and mathematics.

Members of the governing body have an excellent understanding of the work of the school and ask pertinent questions of leaders that enable the school to make further improvements.

Information about this school

This is a larger-than-average primary school. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught in the 30-place Nursery and two Reception classes.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is average. The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below average. These include pupils with complex learning needs, behavioural, social and emotional needs and medical needs.

Most pupils are from White British backgrounds with a small minority from a range of other backgrounds. A small minority speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives the pupil premium (additional government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children who are looked after by the local authority) is average.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics. The school has had considerable staff changes in the last two years, particularly in Key Stage 1. There has also been a reorganisation of the senior leadership team.