Pentland Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The headteacher has taken decisive action to improve teaching and, as a result, the quality of teaching and learning is consistently good.

Pupils make good progress. Behaviour is good because the school uses nurture groups to encourage and support pupils to behave well. Relationships are strong and care and support are excellent.

Pupils feel safe and keen to learn. Home-school support workers ensure pupils are eager to attend regularly. The curriculum promotes pupils' achievement and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development well.

It provides stimulating opportunities that capture their interest. The headteacher has a st...rong presence in school and is well respected by all. She is ably supported by other leaders and governors; together they lead the school effectively so that it has improved rapidly since the previous inspection.

Partnerships with other schools and the local authority have contributed successfully to the significant improvements in the quality of teaching and pupils' progress. Provision for pupils with special educational needs is good, including for those in the school's support base. Consequently, they make good progress.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : The quality of teaching and learning has some aspects to improve to raise it to being consistently outstanding. Expectations about the quality of handwriting are not always high enough and marking is not consistently effective. The governing body is not yet fully effective in using data to check on pupils' progress.

Information about this school

This school is larger than the average-sized primary school. . The proportions of pupils supported at school action are well above the national average.

The proportions of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs are average. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is high. (The pupil premium is additional funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children from service families and children that are looked after by the local authority.

) The school has a specialised unit which attracts additional funding to address the needs of 10 Key Stage 2 pupils with special educational needs and disabilities within the local authority of Stockton-on-Tees. Last year, the school met the government's current floor standard, which sets the minimum expectations for pupils' progress and attainment. The school has achieved the Healthy School Status, Activemark Gold and Artsmark Gold awards.