Walgrave Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

This is a good school that has steadily improved since the previous inspection and continues to do so. Attainment is at expected levels for children starting in Reception and rises to above average at the end of each key stage.

Pupils achieve well because good teaching and outstanding care, guidance and support enable the vast majority to make the most of the opportunities on offer. More-able pupils reach higher levels of attainment, but are sometimes not challenged sufficiently during lessons and opportunities for extended independent investigations are limited. Pupils speak confidently but opportunities are missed to use and develop oral skills in lessons.

The pupils' outstanding behaviour ...and positive attitudes help them to learn because teachers can rely on them to work independently and help one another. All other aspects of the pupils' personal development are good. They contribute well to the school and local community, but have a limited appreciation of the ethnic, religious and cultural diversity that exists within the wider society.

The curriculum provides a wide range of opportunities for pupils in and out of lessons. The recently introduced Personal Interest Projects give them some say in what they learn and add to their motivation and enjoyment. Writing is developed well in different subjects and featured prominently in displays but such opportunities in mathematics are more limited; as a result, pupils make stronger progress in English than in mathematics.

The headteacher provides clear leadership and delegates well so that all staff feel empowered in their roles. The governing body makes a strong contribution to guiding the school and holds it to account for standards achieved. All statutory duties are fulfilled.

Requirements to promote community cohesion are met, but the action plan is at the early stages of implementation and has not yet had a significant impact on pupils' appreciation of diversity. The school's partnership with parents and carers is outstanding. Parents and carers raise significant funds to boost provision and the more recently formed School Forum greatly enhances the dialogue between home and school and gives parents and carers a voice in the school improvement process.

Self-evaluation is good. All staff and governors contribute to the school development plan, which is rigorously reviewed to inform further improvement planning. The systematic improvements made to provision since the previous inspection and the strongly improving trend in pupils' outcomes in each year-group demonstrate a good capacity for sustained improvement.

Information about the school

This smaller-than-average primary school takes pupils from Walgrave and the surrounding rural area and villages. Fewer than one in ten pupils come from minority ethnic groups, which is about half the average proportion, with few who speak English as an additional language. Very few pupils are known to be entitled to free school meals.

The school identifies about one in eight pupils as having special educational needs and/or disabilities compared to an average of one in five nationally. Most of these pupils have moderate learning difficulties and a small number have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. Very few pupils have a statement of special needs.

The school gained the Active Mark in 2009 and the ArtsMark (silver) in 2010. An independently run playgroup operates on the site. This is inspected separately.

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