Bowes Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The Executive headteacher, the senior team and the governors lead the school outstandingly well, ensuring that both teaching and achievement are of the highest standard.

The tracking of pupils' learning and progress is accurate, consistent and rigorous. Children begin school with levels of skill and knowledge that are well below expected for their age. They make rapid progress in literacy and numeracy because their experiences in school are very well planned and engaging.

Outstanding teaching inspires pupils to enjoy learning and to develop excellent personal skills. Teachers and teaching assistants plan and teach collaboratively... to ensure that all pupils make outstanding progress. Pupils who speak English as an additional language make excellent progress because : their needs are well met by teachers and their assistants who understand pupils' needs and how to address them.

This is also true of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs and pupils eligible for the pupil premium. Pupils behave extremely well in lessons and around the school. They are confident and independent.

They feel safe in school and are respectful towards each other and adults. Parents and carers speak highly of the school's ability to keep their children safe and happy. Governors ensure resources are well allocated and that pupil premium funding makes a positive contribution to the excellent achievement of the pupils.

Information about this school

The school is a larger than the average-sized primary school. A high proportion of pupils are eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for children in the care of the local authority, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those from service families. There are no pupils from service families in the school.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs who are supported at school action is below the national average as is the proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs. Pupils are from a wide variety of minority ethnic backgrounds and a large proportion speak English as an additional language. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The Bowes Children's Centre is on the same site as the school and is managed by the governors but was not inspected. The school works closely with it to ensure continuity for the children of the local community. The school has an Additional Resourced Base for autistic children.

The school is part of a federation of two schools, and an Annexe of four 'bulge' classes. There is one governing body and one executive headteacher whose senior leadership team works across the whole federation. The school is also a teaching school and works with many trainee teachers who are with local universities.