Dronfield Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils in all groups make outstanding progress from their starting points.

As a result, they consistently leave the school at the end of Year 2 with standards well above those normally expected for their age in reading, writing and mathematics. Pupils make such excellent progress because : the quality of teaching, in all phases, is outstanding. Teachers, and highly skilled teaching assistants, are exceptionally good at identifying the needs of all pupils, and at ensuring that the work they set for pupils is closely matched to their individual needs.

Pupils' behaviour is outstanding. In lessons, they focus their energies completel...y on learning. This is because teachers ensure that activities are exciting and enjoyable for them.

Pupils' behaviour in other areas of the school, including in the playground, is impeccable. Parents and carers hold the school in very high regard. Pupils' enjoyment of school is further reflected by their consistently above average attendance, which continues to improve.

Pupils learn about an exciting range of topics and subjects, which fully meet their needs. Learning is very effectively brought to life through a frequent and varied range of school trips. As a result, pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding.

Teachers frequently mark pupils' writing books and make very helpful comments, to help pupils to understand how they can improve their work. The leadership and management of the school are outstanding. The inspirational headteacher is supported by a highly skilled and dedicated senior leadership team.

Leaders have successfully maintained, and further improved upon, the high standards of the school. The experienced governing body has a comprehensive understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses and continually challenges the school's leaders to continue to improve, with marked impact.

Information about this school

This is an average-sized school of its type.

Most pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils who are known to be eligible for the pupil premium is below average. This is additional government funding to support pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, those in local authority care and those from families in the armed services.

The proportions of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs who are supported through school action, school action plus, or with a statement of special educational needs are below average. Children begin the school in the Reception classes and have a broad range of experiences prior to starting school. For example, in September 2012 pupils came from seventeen different pre-school settings in the local community.

Breakfast, after-school, and holiday clubs operate on the school site. However, these are managed privately and are subject to separate inspection. The school is a designated NLE (National Leader of Education) school and uses expertise within the school to support the improvement of other schools across the country.

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