Seymour Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Inspired by the new executive headteacher, leaders and staff have united in their determination to do the very best for pupils.

A shift in culture to create a more aspirational outlook has been a critical factor in rapidly accelerating the pace of improvement over the last year. Effective leadership of teaching means that the quality of teaching, learning and assessment is improving securely and quickly. It is good overall.

This is a happy school, where pupils enjoy learning. They are particularly enthusiastic about English, mathematics, art and physical education (PE). This is reflected in their positive experiences and outcomes across a... wide range of subjects.

The school has begun a radical overhaul of the curriculum in subjects other than English and mathematics. Senior leaders know exactly what they want to achieve but this work is at a very early stage. Pupils achieve well.

The strong progress of current pupils is more consistent across key stages than it was in the past. Even so, the most able pupils are capable of more. They are not consistently well challenged, particularly in science and other subjects beyond English and mathematics (foundation subjects).

The early years is successful in preparing most children for learning in key stage 1. However, the quality of teaching and the environment is not of the best possible quality. Phonics (letters and the sounds they represent) teaching in early years and key stage 1 is very effective.

Pupils make good progress in learning to read. Caring relationships between and among pupils and staff, contribute well to pupils' good personal development and welfare. Pupils' behaviour is good.

The local governing body plays a part in the effective governance of the school, but its contribution is not as strong as it could be. Governors have not had sufficient training to be fully accomplished in their roles.

Information about this school

Seymour Primary is much larger than the average-sized primary school.

The school has a very diverse population, with pupils from 14 out of the possible 17 minority ethnic backgrounds. Just under half of pupils are of White British heritage. Nearly half of all pupils speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils identified with SEND has fallen in recent years from above the national average to below. The school has an above-average proportion of disadvantaged pupils. The school offers a breakfast club.

The school is part of The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT). While the board of trustees is legally accountable, it delegates most strategic responsibilities to the school's local governing body. In terms of the executive leadership and management of the trust, as well as a chief executive officer, there are a senior leadership team and regional and deputy regional executive directors.

The former substantive headteacher left in April 2017. The post was first filled by an interim headteacher for the summer term and, subsequently, by an executive headteacher between September and December of 2017. The new executive headteacher took up post in January 2018, since the school's last full inspection.

He is also executive headteacher of another nearby school. Because he is also the trust's regional executive director for the area, the senior regional director carries out the trust's monitoring and challenge role for Seymour Primary. The school has particularly close links with five other local schools within the trust.