Sir John Heron Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils achieve well and make good progress and attainment in their reading and writing by the time they leave. Pupils in the special resource provision achieve well. Children enjoy the exciting and stimulating range of activities provided in the Early Years Foundation Stage, particularly in the nursery.

Teaching is typically good as all teachers have high expectations of pupils. Their exciting use of technology in lessons motivates pupils' learning and teachers give pupils clear guidance about how they can improve their work. The headteacher and senior staff have succeeded in improving the school's effectiveness.

Their determina...tion to improve teaching and pupils' achievement has succeeded. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good which results in their great respect for all members of the school community and good behaviour. Pupils say that they feel safe and are very well cared for.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils' progress in mathematics is slower than in English. Teachers' lesson plans do not always focus sharply enough on giving pupils enough opportunities to plan work and think for themselves. Although governors support the school with enthusiasm, they are not always clear in knowing how to help it improve further.

Information about this school

Sir John Heron is a larger-than-average primary school with a part-time nursery. There are two classes in each year group from Reception to Year 6, except in Year 3 which has three classes. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic heritage is well above the national average, as is the proportion of those who speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils supported through extra pupil premium funding is above the national average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported by school action is slightly more than the national average. The proportion of pupils with severe special educational needs, supported by school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs, is higher than normally found.

In addition to the mainstream special educational needs children, the school has a resourced provision that caters for 23 pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties. The school is a member of a soft federation, which includes seven neighbouring primary schools, a children's centre and the local secondary school. The school was a member of the Get Set Network but still promotes the values of the Olympic and Paralympic movement.

In January 2012, the school achieved the national standard for Enterprise Education. The school has been awarded the Gold Quality Mark from the Youth and Sports Trust for physical education and sports provision. The school meets the current government floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.