South Rise Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils' achievement is good from their starting points. Attainment in Key Stage 1 is particularly good and is improving at the end of Key Stage 2. Pupils' behaviour is good.

They are caring and thoughtful towards one another and have a strong sense of belonging to the school's community. Teaching is good and sometimes outstanding. There is clarity amongst staff about what makes high-quality teaching and learning, which has contributed significantly to rapid improvement over the last two years.

Topics use the local area and resources well with an emphasis on speaking and listening. Recent work on the 'Cutty Sark' captivated and m...otivated the children. Leadership and management are exemplary.

Leaders at all levels share the responsibility for giving pupils the very best opportunities to succeed. Communication between the leadership team and members of the governing body is excellent. Governors hold the school rigorously to account for pupils' performance.

For example, they make sure pupil premium funding is used effectively to close the gap between eligible pupils and their peers. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Standards in Years 3 and 4 need to continue to improve. Some pupils do not have sufficient time to respond to teachers' comments in their books.

Some pupils do not have enough opportunities to write at length. Sometimes pupils have limited opportunities to work on their own. Not all teachers set work at the right level for pupils' abilities.

Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage do not have enough opportunities for structured outdoor learning.

Information about this school

This is an above-average-sized primary school. The school is part of a federation and a new leadership team has been in place since February 2012, following a review by the local authority.

A very high proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language, some of whom are at the early stages of learning English. The majority of pupils are of African heritage. An above-average proportion of pupils are known to be eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for children in the care of the local authority, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and pupils with a parent or carer in the armed services.

The Early Years Foundation Stage consists of a Nursery and Reception. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is above average. The proportion of those supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also above average.

The school currently holds International School, Healthy School, Active Mark and ICT Mark awards, with silver awards for Eco-Schools and Sing-Up. The school is used by the local authority to support other local schools. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.