Newtown School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Newtown is a friendly and welcoming school.

Pupils feel safe and well cared for. Parents and carers are very happy with the school and its staff. The headteacher, ably supported by a well-informed governing body, has improved the quality of teaching and pupils' achievement.

Assessment information is used well to identify areas for improvement and to provide effective extra support for pupils who need it. Children get a good start to school in the Early Years Foundation Stage. They gain confidence and settle in quickly.

Interesting activities are planned for them that ensure they learn well. Pupils' make good progress and their a...ttainment in reading, writing and mathematics is rising and in line with the national average. Teaching is typically good.

Teachers plan activities that engage pupils and they expect them to work hard. Teaching assistants are deployed to good effect. Pupils' work is assessed regularly.

Pupils enjoy school. They get on well with each other and their teachers. They have good attitudes to learning and they behave well.

Disadvantaged pupils and those who are disabled or who have special educational needs are supported well to make good or better progress. It is not yet an outstanding school because: Not enough teaching is outstanding. Occasionally, teachers do not plan activities that have a clear enough purpose, which restricts pupils' progress.

Pupils do not achieve as well in writing as they do in reading and mathematics. The outdoor provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage is not planned well enough to ensure all children, particularly the most able, make progress.

Information about this school

Newtown is an average-sized primary school.

There are three classes in the Reception Year and two classes in the Nursery and Years 1 and 2. All children attend full time in the Reception Year and part time in the Nursery. The school also runs a pre-school group and a newly opened children's centre.

Almost 60% of pupils come from a White British background and just over 20% have Pakistani heritage. There are more pupils than average, around a quarter, who speak English as an additional language. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils supported by the pupil premium (extra government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals or in local authority care) is around 15% and below the national average.

Almost 20% of pupils are supported through school action. Around 10% are supported through school action plus or a statement of special educational needs. Both proportions are above the national average.

The school runs a pre-school and has taken over management of Newtown Children's Centre. Neither of these were part of the inspection. The school runs a breakfast and after-school club.

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