Wicklewood Primary School and Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

The school offers all pupils a wide range of activities in a nurturing, caring environment. As a result, pupils achieve exceptionally well both academically and personally. They develop into confident young people who have a desire to learn and take responsibility for themselves and others.

The headteacher, governors and other leaders have high ambitions for the pupils. They work well together as a team and make the most of their skills. As a result, teaching and pupils' achievement since the last inspection have risen to outstanding.

Governors have a wide range of skills and have clear roles and responsibilities. They r...igorously monitor the work of the school and check that pupils achieve as well as they should. They also provide excellent support for school leaders.

Transition arrangements with the on-site nursery are outstanding and children enter the Reception class knowing the classroom environment and the adults they will meet. This allows them to get off to a good start and make rapid progress. As a result, they leave Reception well prepared for Key Stage 1.

Teachers have high expectations of all pupils. They use pupil achievement data well to set work that is interesting and challenging, allowing pupils to make outstanding progress. School leaders frequently visit classrooms to observe learning and provide high-quality support and training for teachers so they can continue to develop their teaching skills.

The number of pupils leaving Year 6 with higher levels of attainment is consistently well above average in reading, mathematics and English punctuation, grammar and spelling. The proportion of pupils making outstanding progress in writing remains average. Behaviour in lessons is outstanding because pupils want to learn.

They show perseverance in their learning and enjoy work that challenges them. They frequently ask questions because they want to learn more. Behaviour around the school is exemplary.

Pupils care for one another and older pupils talk about their role in ensuring that younger pupils are safe and happy in school. Pupils are given a high degree of responsibility, for example, acting as 'Bully Busters' who ensure that pupils are not bullied. This, and other leadership opportunities, means that pupils feel valued and very proud of their school.

Pupils feel very safe in the school and know how to keep themselves safe. The curriculum is outstanding as it provides pupils with a wide range of subjects and opportunities to learn about the wider world and supports their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Pupils are well prepared for secondary school.

Parents are highly supportive of the school. They value the opportunities available for their children and the high level of care they receive.

Information about this school

Wicklewood Primary School is smaller than the average-sized primary school.

The early years provides full-time education for children in the Reception class. Most pupils are White British. Only a small proportion of pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds and only a very small number speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is below average. A below-average proportion of pupils is eligible for the pupil premium, which is additional funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals or who are looked after by the local authority. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

Since September 2014, the headteacher has worked in school three days a week and, on the remaining two days, the deputy headteacher has taken on the role of acting headteacher. The school is part of the Wymondham Cluster of Primary Schools, in partnership with Ashleigh Primary School, Barford Primary School, and Barnham Broom C of E VA Primary School, Browick Road Infants School, Morley C of E VA Primary School, Robert Kett Junior School, Spooner Row Primary School and Wreningham VA Primary School. As part of the extended school provision, there is a separate nursery on the school site which is managed by the governing body of the school although it is not part of the school.