Whiteways Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The executive headteacher, head of school and other leaders, including governors, exude high expectations. Their leadership has been extremely effective in improving the school since the previous inspection. Leaders and managers have driven improvements in the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, which are now good.

Teaching in the early years is good. As a result, children make good progress and are well prepared for their learning in Year 1. Current pupils make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics across Years 1 to 6.

Pupils with disability and those with special educational needs, and pupils at an early stage of l...earning English, achieve particularly well. Pupils behave well in lessons and around school. The vast majority enjoy coming to school, attend regularly and are eager to learn.

Provision for pupils' personal development and welfare is outstanding. Pupils are very respectful of one another and adults. They readily welcome pupils new to the school from overseas.

Pupils feel exceptionally well cared for, feel safe, and have an excellent understanding of how to keep safe and healthy beyond school. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted effectively. Staff help pupils to respect people from different backgrounds, and to value differences in ideas.

The wide range of extra-curricular clubs, visits and out-of-school experiences ensure pupils leave the school well prepared for the next stage in their education and their future lives. Governors take their responsibilities seriously, are regular visitors to the school, and provide good challenge and support for the school's leaders. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils' writing skills are not as strong across Years 1 to 4 as in the rest of the school.

Pupils do not always have enough opportunities in Years 1 to 6 to use their mathematical skills to solve problems. Not all teachers check pupils' learning carefully in lessons, and adjust their work accordingly, especially for the most able. Some middle leaders do not always hold teachers to account with enough rigour to ensure that pupils make at least consistently good progress.

Information about this school

This is a larger than average-sized primary school which has been created from a former junior school. There is a mixture of two- and three-form entry year groups because of the increasing numbers of pupils who require school places in the locality. The majority of pupils are of Pakistani heritage.

There are increasing numbers of Gypsy/Roma and Eastern European pupils joining the school at various points in the school year. The majority of pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils who are supported through the pupil premium is above the national average.

The pupil premium is additional government funding to support those pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after. The proportion of pupils with disability and those who have special educational needs is above the national average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Year 6 in reading, writing and mathematics.

Since the previous inspection there have been many staffing changes. In September 2015, the school entered into a formal learning partnership with a local primary school, Owler Brook, and an executive headteacher took up post. There have also been significant changes in senior and middle leaders and managers, and in teachers across the school.

The governing body has been reconstituted, with new governors appointed, including a new Chair and vice-chair of governors. The school receives support from Owler Brook Primary School, Sheffield, the Sheffield Teaching School Alliance, and the local authority. There is a breakfast club, managed by the school.