Preston Manor School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school. It has some outstanding features but is not outstanding overall because the proportion of good and outstanding teaching is not yet great enough to secure outstanding achievement.

Pupils who started in Reception Year and in Year 1 in September 2011 as new cohorts of the all-through school have made good progress. Students' achievement is good over time and most groups make good progress based on their average starting points. The specialist provision for students with speech and language difficulties and for students with autism offers outstanding support.

The sixth form is outstanding. Students make outstanding progress and benefit from high quality teaching. Leadership ...of the sixth form is strong and the curriculum is very well matched to students' needs.

Support offered to sixth form students is exceptionally well targeted. Students make a very positive contribution to the life of the school. The great majority of teaching is good and some is outstanding.

Most teachers plan lessons which contain a range of activities and, therefore, stimulate students' desire to deepen their knowledge. Where teaching remains satisfactory, teachers do not present sufficient challenge in lessons or make adequate use of data on students' reading ages. Consequently their planning over time does not match the needs of different groups of students.

Some teachers' marking does not offer enough guidance to students on how to improve. Students are courteous to one another and they are welcoming to visitors. They behave well in the majority of lessons.

Any incidents of low-level disruptive behaviour that occur in some lessons are linked to weaker teaching that does not fully engage all students in their learning. Attendance is now broadly average. Senior leaders and managers demonstrate a good understanding of school improvement strategies and performance management, including for teaching.

They communicate their high expectations effectively and have worked well with middle leaders to strengthen the school's capacity to improve. The school's promotion of students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding.

Information about the school

Preston Manor All-Through Foundation School is larger than the average-sized school.

Due to a severe shortage of primary school places in Brent, the governing body agreed to the school becoming an all-through school with effect from September 2011, starting with two classes in Reception and two in Year 1. These classes are accommodated in a new building within the school grounds. Currently there are no pupils in Years 2 to 6 but this will change as pupils move through the school in future years.

The school has additionally resourced provision for students on the autistic spectrum and with speech and language difficulties. There are more boys on the school roll than girls. The proportion of students known to be eligible for free school meals is well above the national average, and most students come from minority ethnic groups.

Around half of the students speak English as an additional language. An above-average proportion of students who are disabled or who have special educational needs attend the school. Of these, the proportion of students supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above the national average.

The school meets the current floor standards which are the minimum standards set by the government for attainment and progress. The school has specialisms in mathematics and science. It also holds the Healthy School and Sport England award and has achieved Investors in People status.