Stannington First School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils make good progress.

Their attainment is typically above that expected for their age at the end of Year 4. Teaching is good, with some outstanding teaching in the Key Stage 2 class. Work is well planned to be hard enough for all pupils and helps pupils enjoy learning.

As a result, they make rapid progress in reading and mathematics. The curriculum offers pupils exciting learning activities, chances to be creative and to follow their own interests. It helps pupils see how subjects link together and how their learning is used in real-life situations.

The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the pupils is good.... The headteacher has a detailed view of the school's strengths and weaknesses and a clear understanding of how to improve the quality of teaching and raise pupils' achievement. She is well supported and rigorously challenged by the governing body.

Together, they have taken decisive action to tackle weak teaching. As a result, teaching and pupils' achievement have improved. Pupils' behaviour is good; they say they feel very safe.

They play a large part in helping each other to play well together and in suggesting improvements to the school. Attendance is above average. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Information about pupils' progress is not used well enough to provide leaders with a clear understanding of how much progress pupils are making in different classes.

In some lessons, teachers do not plan work that allows pupils to move on quickly to new areas of learning. Recent improvements in marking and target-setting have not had time to raise achievement. Pupils are not given time to act upon advice given by their teachers.

Pupils do not have enough opportunities to use their writing skills in English and in different subjects. As a result, there is slower progress in writing.

Information about this school

This school is much smaller than the average sized primary school.

Pupils leave at the end of Year 4 to attend middle school. Almost all pupils are White British. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is well below average.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action is well below average. The proportions of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs are above average. There is a breakfast club and many after-school clubs which are managed by the governing body.

Since September 2011, the Early Years Foundation Stage class has included nursery-age children in the Community Nursery, which is managed by the governing body. There have been significant changes to staffing since the last inspection. The Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 teachers have been in post since September 2011 and September 2012, respectively.