Handforth Grange Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The school is very effectively led and managed by the headteacher, senior leaders, governors and a team of staff who lead their areas of responsibility extremely well. The headteacher has ensured rapid improvements since his appointment in January 2015.

As a result, outcomes have improved substantially and the progress of current pupils across a wide range of subjects is outstanding. Leaders have a very clear and strong vision, which all members of staff embrace fully. The quality of teaching has improved considerably since the previous inspection and is outstanding.

Teachers and other staff value the training and support which is... provided. Teachers work very well with support staff to plan learning carefully. They plan imaginative and creative lessons which engage pupils.

The curriculum provides rich opportunities for pupils' learning. However, there are more limited opportunities for pupils to develop an understanding of the traditions and customs of wider world cultures. Reading, writing and mathematics are incorporated seamlessly across different areas of the curriculum.

Pupils in all year groups make substantial and sustained progress. The majority of pupils start school with skills and abilities broadly typical for their age. They leave Year 6 with outcomes above those seen nationally in reading, writing and mathematics.

The provision for pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and for those who are disadvantaged is of very good quality. As a result, these pupils make consistently strong progress from their starting points. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is of high quality.

Within this richly diverse community, pupils respect and learn from each other. Pupils' personal development is outstanding, they are safe and their behaviour is impeccable. There has been an improvement in the attendance of disadvantaged pupils.

However, there are a very small number of pupils who do not attend regularly enough. The early years provision is led exceptionally well and children have a very good start to their education. They are prepared fully for the demands of Year 1.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. Wilmslow Grange is slightly larger than most primary schools. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and of pupils who are at the early stages of learning English as an additional language is lower than average.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities supported by an education, health and care plan is higher than that seen nationally. The school has resourced provision for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder. There have been some significant changes in staffing since the previous inspection, including the appointment of a new headteacher and the establishment of a new senior leadership team.