Barnton Community Nursery and Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key Findings

This is a good school. It is not yet outstanding because the quality of teaching and the monitoring of the school's work are not consistently effective.

This is a highly inclusive school in which most pupils thrive, whatever their ability. Achievement is good. From typically below average starting points in the Reception class, children make good progress through the school so that by the time they leave in Year 6 their attainment is above average.

Disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs make good and sometimes outstanding progress because of the high level of additional care and support they receive for their learning. Teaching is good with some which is outstanding. The ...best teaching features very good planning which is perfectly matched to the learning needs of individual pupils.

Most lessons provide challenging and stimulating activities which make learning fascinating and enjoyable. Occasionally, opportunities are missed to accelerate the learning of the most able pupils. The use of individual targets is not always effective enough because the pupils struggle to understand the language used.

Pupils' behaviour is excellent and pupils are almost unanimous in saying that they feel safe and well looked after. Pupils make an outstanding contribution to their school and are consulted on a wide range of issues. Attitudes to learning are excellent.

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. Leadership and management are good, with particular strengths in the leadership of the headteacher and senior leadership team in managing provision. In response to a dip in standards in 2011, senior leaders implemented rigorous professional development and pupil support.

Inspection evidence shows that attainment has risen swiftly to above average and progress is accelerating across the school. The involvement of subject leaders in monitoring the work of the school is at an earlier stage of development and is less effective.

Information about the school

Barnton is a larger than average size primary school.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is above average. The very large majority of pupils are of White British heritage and the proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is average, as is the proportion of pupils for whom English is an additional language. The proportion of pupils supported by school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average.

This is partly because the school has Primary Resource Provision for children with moderate and severe learning difficulties. Since the previous inspection in 2007 there has been a new headteacher, numbers have increased significantly and the proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs has doubled. Pupil mobility has increased so that more pupils than is usual join and leave the school throughout the year.

The school meets the current floor targets set by the governments' expectations for attainment and progress. It holds numerous awards in recognition of the quality of its work. Among others, these include Investors in People, Inclusion and Basic Skills Quality Marks, the Activemark, Artsmark gold, National Healthy School status and, most recently, the North West Family Learning Quality Mark.

Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms