St Luke’s Church of England Aided Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The inspirational headteacher, well-supported by the senior leadership team and the governing body, has made significant improvements in teaching and achievement across the school since the last inspection.

The quality of teaching is good and is improving. This is raising pupils' achievement further. Pupils' achievement is good.

Their attainment in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of Year 6 is in line with national averages. This represents good progress from pupils' starting points. Provision in the Early Years is good.

Children very much enjoy the imaginative and well-planned activities that enable them to achieve w...ell. Systems used by senior and subject leaders to check the quality of teaching are rigorous. Teachers know what they do well and how to improve.

The school takes effective steps to promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. These help all pupils to develop the skills and personal qualities needed to work with others in the school and the community. Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school.

They feel very safe at school and enjoy the many different activities that are planned for them. Pupils arrive punctually at school and quickly settle into their lessons. Attendance has improved and is above average.

It is not yet an outstanding school because. In some classes, teachers do not check pupils' progress regularly enough. This means they do not always ensure that planned tasks are as challenging as they could be.

In some cases, the quality of teachers' feedback to pupils is not clear enough. Pupils do not always act on the advice they are given. Occasionally, a few pupils do not concentrate in lessons as well as they should.

Information about this school

St Luke's Primary school is larger than the average-sized primary school. There are two classes in each age group, and separate provision in the Nursery and Reception. Reception children all attend on a full-time basis.

Pupils come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and six out of ten pupils speak English as an additional language, with an increasing number at an early stage of learning English in the younger age groups. Many more pupils than is the case nationally join the school at other than at the usual time. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is above average, at 21%.

A very small number of pupils have an education, health and care plan. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium (the additional funding allocated by the government for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals) is above average, at 42%. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

In September 2012, the governors appointed a new teacher; in September 2013, they appointed three newly qualified teachers. Pupils from Years 1 to 6 are taught English and mathematics in ability groups. The headteacher is currently supporting other headteachers in the local authority.

The deputy headteacher is also working closely with a number of local schools to support improvements in early years provision. There is a before-school breakfast club and an after-school club. These are managed by the governing body and formed part of the inspection.