West Hill Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils achieve well as most make good progress from their starting points. Pupils' attainment in English and mathematics has improved since the previous inspection and is now high.

Teaching across the school is typically good. The effective teaching of phonics (the linking of sounds and letters) has led to pupils becoming confident, competent readers. Marking is of a high standard.

Teachers provide exceptionally detailed comments on pupils' work and identify clearly what pupils need to do to improve. Pupils' behaviour is typically good and around the school it is often exemplary. Pupils say they feel very safe in the school.

The... acting headteacher and the acting deputy headteacher have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and of the areas which need further improvement. They have high expectations of all who work in the school and staff are fully supportive of their leadership. Governors provide a good balance of challenge and support to school leaders and have a comprehensive knowledge of the school's work and the quality of teaching and learning.

The school provides a wealth of opportunities to promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. These values underpin the curriculum and are at the core of the school's ethos. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not enough teaching is outstanding.

Teachers' explanations and introductions to lessons are sometimes too long which means pupils then do not have sufficient time to work independently. Some pupils, who find learning more difficult, rely too much on adult support and are not confident to work on their own. In the Early Years Foundation Stage, children do not have enough opportunities to develop their early literacy and numeracy skills outdoors.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized primary school. The long serving headteacher retired at the end of the summer term 2012 and the deputy headteacher is currently acting headteacher. There is also an acting deputy headteacher.

About three quarters of pupils are from White British backgrounds and the rest are from a range of heritages. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is similar to all schools nationally. The proportion of pupils identified with special educational needs through school action is below average, as is the proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs.

The proportion of pupils who are eligible for free school meals and for whom the school receives additional funding (the pupil premium) is lower than average. There are no looked after children or pupils from service families, groups also eligible for the pupil premium. The school meets the government's current floor standards which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics.