Shaftesbury Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school In this outstanding school, leaders ensure that all pupils and staff live and learn by the `five Cs' of care, courtesy, commitment, cooperation and consideration. The headteacher, senior leaders and governors have driven forward improvements in all aspects of the school's work with a passion. Through an excellent programme of training, teachers, leaders and other staff thrive professionally.

All pupils blossom socially and academically because : excellent teaching, high expectations and unwavering care are at the heart of the school's work. The inclusion team ensures that all pupils who are struggling with their learning, for whatever reas...on, are fully supported to quickly catch up with their peers and make rapid progress. Governance has improved markedly since the last inspection.

Governors are very knowledgeable about the school's work. They visit the school frequently to check how well leaders are driving forward the school's improvement priorities. They challenge and support leaders effectively and have made a strong contribution to helping the school achieve excellence.

From their different starting points, all groups of pupils, including the most able, make outstanding progress across the subjects of the curriculum. Teaching is outstanding. Teachers know their pupils extremely well and prepare exciting activities that engage and challenge them to achieve their best.

The level of care for vulnerable pupils and their families is exceptional. This has been a major factor, for instance, in the highly successful integration of the many pupils who join the school with no previous experience of school or with limited English language skills. Pupils demonstrate the highest levels of respect for each other and adults alike.

They display exemplary behaviour and attitudes to their learning. Children in the early years get off to a superb start in this vibrant and nurturing setting. High-quality teaching and care ensure that children quickly gain confidence, learn to socialise extremely well and make rapid progress in all areas of learning.

Leaders take highly effective action to promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and their physical well-being. Pupils gain a sound understanding of life in modern Britain and leave the school very well prepared for secondary education.

Information about this school

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

Most pupils speak English as an additional language. Almost all pupils are from ethnic minority backgrounds with most being of Asian background. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for support through the pupil premium is slightly above that found nationally.

The pupil premium is additional government funding to support the learning of those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those children who are looked after by the local authority. An average proportion of pupils have special educational needs support. The proportion of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is very low.

The early years provision comprises two part-time Nursery classes and three full-time Reception classes. The proportion of pupils who join or leave the school at other than the usual times is high. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics.