Wellgate Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher's determination, commitment and very skilful leadership have created a culture where staff are unrelenting in ensuring that pupils are well cared for, safe and achieve well. Other senior and phase leaders have developed their skills and now make a valuable contribution to school improvement. The quality of teaching, learning and assessment has been successfully improved through effective training and opportunities to share best practice.

As a result, standards have risen in all key stages and pupils are typically making good progress from their starting points. Gaps in performance between disadvantaged pupils and their peers are cl...osing convincingly. Pupils feel safe in school and are confident that an adult will help them if they are upset or worried.

Pupils enjoy their learning across a wide range of subjects and talk with enthusiasm about the exciting and interesting enrichment experiences they have. This provision contributes well to their progress and their personal development, behaviour and welfare. Provision in the early years has been transformed.

Children settle in quickly, are happy and most are now well prepared for Year 1. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school and its work. Governors know the school well.

They challenge leaders effectively and share the staff's passion to do the best for every child. It is not yet an outstanding school because : In subjects other than reading, writing and mathematics, teachers are less skilful in deepening pupils' understanding and extending their thinking. Progress in these other subjects is not as rapid as a result.

Leaders of subjects beyond reading, writing and mathematics have had less impact on improving provision in their area of responsibility. At times, teaching does not challenge the most able or meet the needs of those who find learning more difficult. A small number of pupils do not have high levels of attendance, so they miss important learning.

Information about this school

Wellgate is larger than the average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils in the school supported through the pupil premium funding is broadly average. This is additional government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority.

The percentage of minority ethnic pupils in the school is low, as is the proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils receiving special educational needs support is broadly in line with the national average. The proportion of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is above average.

The school meets the current government floor standard, which sets the minimum expectation for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. The school meets requirements for the publication of specified information on its website. Children in the Nursery attend part time.

The school has received support from the executive headteacher of the Every Child Matters Trust who is a national leader of education. At the time of the inspection, pupils in Years 1 to 6 had just moved into their classes for the next academic year. Most Year 6 pupils were attending their new secondary schools as part of a two-week transition period.

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