Victoria Park Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Achievement and attainment have consistently improved throughout all year groups for the last two years, and are continuing to do so. Nearly all pupils are making the progress expected of them in reading, writing and mathematics, and a good number in every year group do better. Teaching in the school is consistently good and very occasionally outstanding.

Teachers have high expectations for their pupils and provide many interesting and stimulating learning activities, which enhance the good spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils. Pupils are well cared for and staff ensure that they are kept safely. They behave well and have go...od, enthusiastic attitudes to learning, which they enjoy.

Their attendance is much improved. The school is led very effectively by an ambitious and clear-sighted headteacher, who has encouraged staff to create a strong culture of improvement in a thriving learning environment, with the good support of the senior leadership. The governing body has good knowledge of the school's strengths, areas for improvement, and the progress and attainment of pupils, and works effectively with the school leadership.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not enough teaching is yet outstanding, and it has not been effective enough in helping some more able pupils to reach above, or well above average, standards. Although pupils are developing their basic skills in numeracy and literacy well, they do not have enough opportunities to develop their independent learning skills. School leaders, other than the most senior, do not yet have sufficient opportunities to check on teaching and learning and give teachers more opportunities to observe good practice elsewhere, further developing their skills.

Information about this school

Victoria Park Primary School is larger than the average-sized primary school. The majority of pupils are White British, the remainder coming from a range of other ethnic heritages. The proportion of pupils supported through school action is average.

The proportion of pupils supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average. The proportion of pupils supported through the pupil premium, which is additional government funding for looked-after children, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children of service families, is above average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The school is organised into 17 classes. In most years these are single-year classes, but there are five mixed-aged classes in Key Stage 2 for Years 3 and 4. The school does not make use of any alternative provision.

The school provides a daily breakfast club, which is managed by the governing body. The current headteacher took up his post in September 2011 after a period of considerable instability in the senior leadership of the school. The school staffing has been stable in the last two years, following many changes previously.

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