Oakridge Community Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Oakridge is a very happy, harmonious community of learners where every child is important.

The headteacher has successfully driven forward improvement since the last inspection. The headteacher, increasingly supported by the governing body, rigorously checks the school's performance and takes immediate action to ensure success. More work is needed to improve and sustain the level of governor challenge.

The headteacher is strongly committed to developing her staff; the roles of subject leaders are still being developed so that they are fully involved in checking and developing the quality of teaching and improving pupils' progress... across the school. Close partnerships have been formed with local schools in order to do so. Subject leaders share and gather innovative ideas to further improve the quality of teaching and learning.

Teachers have built strong relationships with their pupils. They increasingly make excellent use of marking and feedback to help pupils to move on in their learning. The teaching of phonics (the sounds letters make) is effective and is having an excellent impact on pupils' achievement in reading and writing.

From starting points that are similar to those expected, pupils make exceptional progress across the school and achieve standards that are above average in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. Pupils' behaviour and their attitudes to learning are impeccable because the school works as a team to create a harmonious learning environment in which all pupils are expected to reach their potential. This makes a significant contribution to pupils' rapid progress and achievement.

Children's learning gets off to a good start. Improvements in provision outdoors in the early years have significantly helped to develop opportunities for children to enjoy structured play with a strong emphasis on learning.

Information about this school

The school is much smaller than most primary schools.

Pupils are taught within two mixed-age classes. One class is for Nursery, Reception and Year 1 and the other for pupils in Key Stage 2. Most pupils are White British.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils known to be eligible for funding through the pupil premium is below average. This is additional government funding which supports pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals. The proportion of pupils supported at school action is below the national average.

The proportion of those supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is slightly above the national average. The school provides a number of after-school clubs, such as a cookery club. The school meets current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations set by the government for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics at the end of Year 6.

The school has built excellent partnerships with the Coastal group of schools and other local secondary and primary schools in the Esk Valley. Following the last inspection, the governing body has been reviewed. There are a number of new governors, including a new Chair.