Swillington Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The determined and focused headteacher and her equally determined senior leadership team have secured improvements in teaching and the curriculum so that more pupils are now achieving the standards they are capable of, including those pupils eligible for the pupil premium. Over time, senior leaders have developed middle leaders so that they contribute effectively to these improvements. Provision for children in the early years is good.

As a result, they make good progress from their starting points and increasingly, more of them are better prepared for Year 1. Teaching is good. It is well matched to pupils' needs, particularly the least-able and t...hose with special needs, who make good progress, sometimes even better.

Governors know the school well. They provide challenge and support in equal measure which have contributed to the school's improving effectiveness. Behaviour in lessons and at other times is good.

Pupils have positive attitudes to learning. They respond well to the responsibilities they are given and value the opportunity to contribute to the life and work of the school. Pupil's personal development and welfare are outstanding.

An exceptionally strong culture of safeguarding and care for pupils ensures they feel safe, attend regularly and achieve well. The school provides an excellent range of activities beyond the school day that widen pupil experiences and develop their skills, particularly in sport and music. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The proportion of more able pupils making accelerated progress and achieving the highest levels is not in line with that seen nationally, particularly in mathematics and writing.

Teachers are grappling with the changes to the school's mathematics curriculum. This means they do not always provide enough challenge and depth in mathematics lessons for pupils to make consistently good progress. Not all teachers ensure pupils form letters accurately, write neatly and present their work to a high standard.

Information about this school

Swillington is a one-form entry primary school. It is smaller than the average-sized primary school. It is part of the Brigshaw Cooperative Trust, a trust made up of seven primary schools, a high school and two children's centres in the area.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for pupil premium funding is average. The school's deprivation indicator is lower than that seen nationally. The proportion of pupils with special educational needs is above that seen nationally.

The proportion of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or supported with an education, health and care plan is below that seen nationally. The large majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is below average and at the time of the inspection, none was at the early stages of learning English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils who join or leave the school at times other than normal starting points is average. There are breakfast and tea-time clubs, which are managed by the school. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.