Thorpe Hall Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

Thorpe Hall Primary School is a good school which ensures that pupils from a wide range of backgrounds make good progress in acquiring knowledge, learning skills and in developing personal qualities which prepare them well for the next stage of education. It is a very inclusive school, as acknowledged by most parents and carers, a typical parental comment being, 'My child is very happy here and you can't really ask for much more!' Children make a good start to their school career in the Early Years Foundation Stage, although they make faster progress in Reception than in the Nursery.

This is because, although children in the Nursery are well cared for, staff in Reception use learning objectives and me...thods of assessment more effectively to maximise learning opportunities for every child. The good progress is maintained and built upon as pupils move up through the school, so that, although pupils join the school with levels of skill which are mostly well below age-related expectations, by the age of 11, attainment is average. One of the school's great successes is ensuring that all pupils share in the good progress.

This includes those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those with English as an additional language, regardless of their backgrounds or whether they join the school other than at the usual transition points. This is the result of good teaching by dedicated staff and the school's success in developing positive attitudes towards learning among pupils which is also reflected in improved attendance. Teachers and other staff support very effectively potentially vulnerable pupils and those with learning difficulties.

They also use assessment well to show pupils how to improve their work, for example through constructive comments in their marking, involving pupils in the assessment and through the use of targets which are known by pupils and regularly reviewed. Although the progress of all pupils in English and mathematics is good overall, including for the most able, occasionally pupils do not achieve as well as they might in individual lessons. This is when there is limited challenge for the more-able pupils, or when teachers talk for too long at the expense of developing more independent learning skills.

Pupils' good academic progress is strongly underpinned by strong personal development and good care, guidance and support. The great majority of pupils feel very safe in school, behave well and get on well together. They are enthusiastic about the curriculum, especially the topics such as 'Circus' and 'Rainforests', which develop a range of skills as well as subject knowledge.

Pupils enjoy enrichment activities such as the choir. They help each other and show responsibility through activities including fundraising and serving on the active school council. Pupils' good personal development is evident in the celebration of cultural diversity and the promoting, understanding and appreciation of different values and lifestyles.

This has contributed to the school's success in achieving the Certificate of Commitment to the Unicef Rights Respecting Schools Award. The school's leadership has moved the school on considerably from the previous inspection. The monitoring of teaching and learning, and the use of assessment, are now more systematic, and increasingly involve subject leaders and other coordinators.

The quality of teaching has improved, the governing body is more active and constructively challenging, and staff are enthusiastic and committed to improvement. Above all, pupils' progress has improved significantly since the previous inspection. The improvement in several key areas, combined with accurate self-evaluation, realistic planning and a clear understanding of how to build on existing successes, shows that the school has a good capacity for sustained improvement.

Information about the school

Thorpe Hall Primary School is a much larger than average school. The majority of pupils come from a range of minority ethnic heritages and the proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is well above average. The proportion of pupils identified as having special educational needs and/or disabilities, which include a range of learning, behavioural and emotional needs, is above average.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is above average. Children join the Early Years Foundation Stage in the Nursery and also attend two Reception classes. The school has the Healthy Schools Award, the International Schools Award (Intermediate Level) and the Certificate of Commitment to the Unicef Rights Respecting Schools Award.