Penkridge Middle School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher, ably supported by senior leaders, is relentless in her determination to provide the best-possible education for all pupils. She commands the support of pupils, parents and staff.

The federation governing body provides excellent support and robust challenge to school leaders. Governors are committed to the school's vision for excellence. Senior leaders and governors know the school well and their evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses is detailed and honest.

They act swiftly to address weaknesses. Teachers' assessments of pupils' attainment are regular and accurate. Leaders use this information well to provide extra he...lp for any pupils who need it.

From the beginning of Year 5, to when they leave the school in Year 8, pupils make good progress in all subjects. However, progress is slower in English and mathematics in key stage 2 than in key stage 3. Specialist-subject teaching in all years means that pupils make particularly strong progress in subjects beyond English and mathematics.

Consequently, pupils are academically very well prepared when they move on to high school. Relationships are strong across the school. Teachers know their pupils well and pupils like and trust their teachers.

Teachers have good subject knowledge. They explain concepts well and they ask questions that help pupils think hard and develop a good understanding of their work. Expectations are generally high.

However, teachers sometimes do not expect pupils to work hard enough and are occasionally too accepting of insufficient or poorly presented work. Leaders' and teachers' work to improve pupils' reading has been very effective. However, the development of writing is less strong because : pupils have limited opportunities to write at length other than in English lessons.

The teaching of reasoning is weaker than the teaching of other areas of mathematics. Pupils have strong basic skills, but do not apply these to solving problems sufficiently, especially in key stage 2. Pupils behave well in lessons and at other times of the day.

They are polite, friendly and courteous to each other and to adults. The wide array of enrichment and leadership opportunities contributes extremely well to pupils' self-confidence. Their personal development is outstanding.

Pupils feel safe, and are safe, in school. They enjoy coming to school and consequently, attendance is consistently higher than the national average.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.

The school is smaller than the average-sized middle school. Almost all pupils are of White British heritage. Very few speak English as an additional language.

It has a below-average proportion of disadvantaged pupils. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is below average. The school is part of the Wolgarston collaboration between 11 local first and middle schools, together with Wolgarston High School.

The headteacher took up post in February 2016. In April 2016, the school became a founding member of the Penk Valley Federation with Princefield First School, Marshbrook First School and Wolgarston High School. The four schools share a governing body.

The school meets the current government floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' progress in English and mathematics. The school meets the Department for Education's definition of a coasting school based on key stage 2 academic performance results in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The school does not make any use of alternative provision for pupils.