Pear Tree Mead Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

Pear Tree Mead Primary and Nursery School has made good progress in addressing all the areas identified as requiring improvement at the last inspection and strengthened many other aspects of its provision. Outcomes for pupils are rising significantly.

The school's overall effectiveness is good. Improvements to teaching and to the curriculum have had a marked impact on enthusing pupils and accelerating their progress. As a result, the most recent national assessments for the end of Key Stage 2 show marked improvement.

The gap between English and mathematics is closing rapidly. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities achieve well. Those pupils who are known to be eligible for ...free school meals often outperform their peers due to the successful support they receive.

While not all pupils across the school are yet attaining at the level expected for their age, almost every pupil has made at least good progress in the last four terms. Pupils' handwriting and the presentation of their work have also improved. However, the pace of improvement has been slower in writing because pupils do not always have sufficient opportunity to write for a range of purposes.

There continue to be weaknesses in pupils' spelling. The teaching is good. Weaknesses in teaching have mostly been eradicated, but there is still some inconsistency in ensuring that work is matched accurately to the needs of all pupils.

Occasionally, the introduction to lessons is too long. The school has developed rigorous procedures for assessing pupils and tracking their progress systematically. They are understood by all staff, who are now more confident to use the information to plan their teaching and to provide support.

The curriculum has undergone considerable change and is now interesting and relevant to all pupils, who acknowledge they enjoy their lessons. The provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage is good. There is a range of well-planned opportunities for learning both inside and outside; children are motivated to choose activities and initiate their own learning.

Attendance is improving across the school and is broadly average. Pupils are excellent ambassadors for the school. They are well behaved, both in lessons and around school, and care for their friends and younger pupils.

They take responsibility for their own learning willingly and participate in schemes through which they support others. While the social and moral development of the pupils are well established, their spiritual and cultural development have improved rapidly. All pupils benefit from good-quality care, guidance and support.

The leaders and managers of the school at all levels have a clear, single and robust vision for school improvement. That has resulted in the school's positive transformation. The headteacher and the leadership team are supported by an effective governing body, which is now better informed and holds the school to account by providing rigorous challenge.

The school's self-evaluation is accurate and its strategic direction is clear. The school has used its partnerships and links with other agencies positively to provide support and guidance to assist in its drive to improve. It has good capacity to sustain improvement, which has been demonstrated in overcoming the weaknesses in teaching and learning.

Information about the school

Pear Tree Mead Primary and Nursery School is a larger-than-average sized primary school. The number of pupils from minority ethnic groups is average, as is the number of pupils who speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is also average.

The percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is above average. The school has Early Years Foundation Stage provision for children from the age of three years and it provides a breakfast club also. The school has both the Healthy Schools Award and the Sport England Active Mark.