Princefield First School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils get off to a good start in nursery and the Reception classes and become confident learners, particularly in speaking and listening, understanding instructions and using the language of mathematics. Pupils make good progress and reach above expected attainment levels in reading and mathematics by the end of Year 4.

Standards in writing are improving quickly but are not quite as high as those in reading and mathematics. Teaching is good. Well-planned lessons and the recent emphasis on holding individual 'learning conversations' with pupils are having a marked impact on the progress of all groups.

Disabled pupils and those with who h...ave special educational needs make good progress as a result of carefully targeted support and challenge. The well thought out learning opportunities, based upon exciting introductions to topics, contribute to pupils' good attitudes and behaviour in and around school. Good leadership by the headteacher, senior staff and governors, underpinned by accurate self-evaluation, a clear plan for improvement and accountability at all levels, are the cornerstones of the schools success.

The pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good and enables pupils to develop into successful learners who care about themselves, others and their environment. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Until very recently insufficient opportunities are given to pupils to develop their skills of independent learning which would help them to make even faster progress Not enough time is provided for pupils to mark one another's work and so understand how to improve their own work. Pupils do not write at length in many subjects so they do not make as much progress as they should.

Some children in Reception and Year 1 do not form their letters correctly and this slows their progress in writing further up the school.

Information about this school

Princefield First School is an average sized first school. A below-average proportion of pupils are known to be eligible for the pupil premium, (additional government funding for those pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and looked after children).

Almost all pupils are from White British backgrounds. The school has a very small proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and pupils who speak English as an additional language. None of these pupils are at the early stages of acquiring English as an additional language.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is below the national average. The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below the national average. The school operates a daily breakfast club which is run by the governing body.