Rufford Park Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key Findings

This is a good school. Pupils make good progress and reach standards that are above average, because of good teaching. Pupils enjoy learning, because of the lively teaching and a much improved curriculum that engages their interest and enthusiasm.

Pupils are well behaved and feel safe and happy in school. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. They have good relationships with staff and with each other, and collaborate well at work and at play.

The vast majority of lessons are good, with a small proportion that are satisfactory. Although lessons often show elements of outstanding practice, few are outstanding overall. Good leadership and management have led to improve...d teaching and learning, with consequent better attainment since the previous inspection.

Staff share a clear vision for continuing to improve, based on accurate self-evaluation. Subject leaders for English and mathematics have made a strong contribution to improvements. However, in many curricular areas, the role of subject leaders in monitoring progress and supporting improvements is at an early stage of development.

All groups of pupils achieve similarly well, helped by much-improved systems to keep track of their progress. A gap in the achievements of boys and girls in the past has been greatly reduced, and good plans are in place to eliminate some remaining variations. The new arrangements for Reception children are working well.

Children are happy, settled and making good progress.

Information about the school

This is an average-sized urban primary school. The vast majority of pupils are White British, with a tiny number from a range of minority ethnic groups.

Very few speak English as an additional language, and none is at the early stages of learning English. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible to free school meals has risen in the last few years and is average. The proportion of pupils identified with special educational needs or with disabilities is broadly average, although it varies considerably between year groups.

Government floor standards have been met during the last three years. This year, for the first time, Reception-aged children are taught by two teachers in two classes, who share accommodation. Prior to this academic year, there was some disruption in several classes due to staff changes and long-term absences.

The school runs a breakfast and after-school club each day, managed by the governing body. A privately-run pre-school provision shares the school premises. This provision is inspected and reported upon separately.

Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms