West Meadows Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

West Meadows Primary is a good school. It is firmly set on an upward path due to the purposeful vision of the headteacher and the commitment by staff, at all levels, to achieving this.

The school has worked tenaciously to forge strong links with parents and carers following the break-up of the school community when the old school closed some years ago. This resulted in some barriers developing between home and school which have taken time to dismantle. Parents and carers are now fully supportive of the school.

Their typical references to 'good school, good headteacher, good teachers' accurately sum up the school. Much has improved since the last inspection due to the relentless focus on impro...vement by senior leaders and staff. For example, pupils' attainment, although broadly average in English and mathematics, continues to rise securely for all groups of pupils from historically low levels.

This also applies to children in the Early Years Foundation Stage. More accurate assessment and use of data ensure that pupils achieve well and that teaching focuses correctly on the next learning steps. Previous strengths have consolidated pastoral support and the provision for children in the early years particularly relating to the curriculum.

Safeguarding is an outstanding aspect of the school's work. Procedures relating to child protection are of the highest quality. Documented case studies demonstrate the school's extensive involvement with a variety of external agencies that result in highly positive outcomes for individual pupils.

Pupils continue to develop strong personal skills overall, although their awareness of diversity in Britain is weaker than of that found in other communities. Pupils behave well and are eager to contribute to school life. They are good ambassadors for the school within the local community.

Despite concerted efforts from mentoring and support staff, attendance levels remain around the national average. Well-organised administrators, lunchtime and ancillary staff ensure that the school runs smoothly from day to day. The headteacher, senior leaders and the governing body are highly focused on improving all elements of the school's work.

They communicate their ambitions for the school clearly to pupils, parents and carers. They recognise that the school has to sustain and build still further upon the current improvements in the attainment of all groups of pupils. Priorities are correctly identified through accurate and well-evidenced self-evaluation.

These improvements and continuing strengths demonstrate that the school's capacity for sustained improvement remains good.

Information about the school

The school is of average size when compared to other primary schools. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is far higher than average.

Almost all pupils are of White British heritage. A larger-than-average proportion of pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities. The school has Healthy Schools status.