Orchard Fields Community School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher and deputy headteacher provide strong and diligent leadership.

They know the school well and have put in place effective plans to drive ongoing improvement. Governors fulfil their responsibilities well. For example, they work closely with leaders to tackle the barriers to learning that some pupils face.

Teachers question pupils well to find out what they know and understand, and they adapt their teaching to meet pupils' needs. As a result, teaching is good throughout the school. Leaders have developed a broad and balanced curriculum.

A range of clubs and activities, including educational trips, successfully promot...e pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. There is a strong safeguarding culture at the school. Leaders and staff know pupils well and are highly alert to their needs.

Pupils know how to keep themselves safe. Pupils' behaviour is good. Attendance has improved for all groups.

Overall attendance is now similar to the national average. Too few of the most able pupils attain the higher standards at the end of key stage 2. Pupils' personal development and welfare is outstanding.

The excellent pastoral support at the school means that pupils feel safe. Provision in the early years is outstanding. Children develop very well in all areas of learning, in an exciting and nurturing environment.

Learning time is used exceptionally well. Disadvantaged pupils achieve well. Leaders make good use of additional funding to ensure that these pupils make rapid progress.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make good progress from their individual starting points. Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of the school. They speak very highly of teachers and other staff.

In the past, too few pupils in key stage 2 attained as well as they should in reading, writing and mathematics. Although current pupils are making better progress, rates of improvement have not been strong enough. Current pupils do not make as much progress in reading as they do in writing and mathematics.

Information about this school

Orchard Fields Community School is a larger-than-average sized primary school. The early years comprises a Nursery, for three-year-olds and four-year-olds, and two Reception classes. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is well above the national average.

The proportion of pupils who receive SEN support is well above the national average. The proportion of pupils supported by an education, health and care (EHC) plan is well below the national average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is below the national average.