Whitehall Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Whitehall Primary School is an inclusive and caring school.

Pupils are proud of their school. They learn and understand the importance of being considerate and respectful within their diverse school community. Pupils are confident that everyone is treated fairly here.

Pupils enjoy learning and relish taking on a challenge. The school aims to feed pupils' curiosity. Pupils appreciate that teachers help them to improve because they want to be successful now and in the future.

Those who need extra help receive it quickly. The school is determined that pupils will achieve well across all subjects to match their ongoing success in reading, writing and mathematics....Pupils behave well.

They enjoy receiving house points and certificates, but choose to do their best because it is the right thing to do. Pupils say they feel safe. They say that bullying is very rare.

They appreciate that staff listen to them and help them to resolve problems. Pupils are keen to serve their community. They diligently take on roles, such as being school councillors, play leaders and eco-warriors.

The school provides pupils with many valuable experiences, including in sport and music, so pupils can discover and nurture their talents.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has an ambitious vision to provide an excellent education for every child. The school has made many positive changes over the past two years.

However, some policies do not make the school's expectations clear. This leads to some inconsistencies in practice.All subjects have a well-considered and sequenced curriculum in place.

Leadership across all subjects and phases has been developed so teaching staff receive appropriate support and guidance across all subjects. This work is having a positive impact on pupils' learning and pupils remembering more over time.Reading is always a priority.

The school has sustained its success in ensuring that every pupil becomes a reader. Right from the start in Reception, children learn to read well. In Nursery, important listening skills and sound discrimination are developed to be ready for Reception.

Frequent checks mean that staff have a precise understanding of how pupils' reading skills are developing. Pupils who need extra help receive this quickly. The school has reviewed the selection of books studied to make deliberate links to what pupils are learning in other areas of the curriculum.

The school ensures that pupils are taught effective reading strategies and are shown how to use evidence from what they read carefully to support and deepen their understanding. Parents are given helpful guidance and pupils read regularly at home and in school. Pupils are keen, confident and fluent readers who can talk about the books they study and enjoy.

The mathematics curriculum is embedded from early years to Year 6. Teachers use their strong subject knowledge well to enable them to spot and address any misconceptions quickly. The vast majority of pupils become confident and enthusiastic mathematicians who relish using their knowledge to solve problems.

The vocabulary which pupils learn in all subjects is carefully chosen from Nursery to Year 6. This helps all pupils, including those who speak English as an additional language, to grow in confidence in how they think about and explain their learning.The school identifies barriers and the additional needs of pupils quickly and accurately for disadvantaged pupils, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Staff adapt all aspects of the delivery of the curriculum to meet the needs of pupils so they can achieve as highly as possible.Children in the early years make a strong start to their schooling. They quickly settle in well and learn appropriate routines.

They are prepared well for Year 1 and beyond.Pupils' well-being is given the highest priority. They learn about the importance of healthy choices.

Pupils learn about different faiths. They have a clear understanding of right and wrong. Pupils have an age-appropriate understanding of different families and relationships by the time they leave the school.

The majority of parents appreciate that their children are happy, safe and achieve well. The school communicates with parents in a variety of ways. The school is sensitive to different cultural expectations within the community.

However, a number of parents are frustrated when the school cannot satisfy expectations that are contrary to its statutory duties.Staff are proud to work at Whitehall Primary School. They say that they feel fairly treated as part of this supportive team.

Staff appreciate that leaders are mindful of their well-being. Staff value the range of training provided and the opportunity to grow and develop their roles in the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The school has acted to bring about many improvements over a short period. Some policies and processes are not yet sufficiently clear and coherent to achieve a consistency of practice across different aspects of the school's work. The school should refine policies and processes further to secure consistency across the school to further realise the school's ambition.

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