Hartshead Junior and Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

This is a good school. One parent mirrors the views of others when writing, 'The school creates a lovely, caring family atmosphere.' Pupils feel secure, happy and extremely safe.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. Attendance is high and pupils' enjoyment of school is good. Pupils have a good understanding of healthy lifestyles and take part in an extensive range of extra-curricular and sporting activities.

They especially appreciate the good curriculum and the many visits to interesting places that enrich provision. Pupils develop an excellent understanding of cultural and religious diversity through international links and visits to other schools. Most children enter the Reception class with sk...ills broadly typical for their age.

They make good progress. This good progress continues across Key Stages 1 and 2, so that by the end of Year 6, attainment is above average in reading and well above average in mathematics. Most pupils make satisfactory progress in writing to reach broadly average standards by the end of Year 6.

From the Reception class onwards, opportunities are missed for pupils to develop and reinforce their skills in writing systematically. Teaching is good overall and contributes significantly to pupils' good progress. Teachers' very effective skills in behaviour management ensure that lessons run smoothly.

Knowledgeable teaching assistants contribute significantly to pupils' learning and ensure that pupils who do not find it easy to learn make good progress in lessons. In the good lessons observed, teachers' planning ensured that new skills were taught in a systematic way and that no time was wasted. In other lessons teachers did not use assessments effectively to plan work that closely matched pupils' differing abilities.

Teachers' marking does not routinely inform pupils of how to improve their work. The acting headteacher is providing a strong steer for the school. In a short time he has gained staff confidence and ensured a strongly motivated, cohesive team.

Morale is high. Recently introduced assessment and tracking procedures enable the acting headteacher and governors to keep a closer watch on pupils' progress. However, subject coordinators are at an early stage of monitoring and evaluating provision and have yet to fully develop their management roles.

Through a time of considerable turbulence, pupils' good standards and the good outcomes of the last inspection have been maintained. Governors give good support and challenge. Together with the acting headteacher they have rigorously evaluated provision and formulated a challenging strategic plan for future development.

These factors indicate a good capacity for further improvement.

Information about the school

The school is smaller than average in size. The proportion of pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals is well below average, as is the number of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

The school has received Healthy School status, Activemark and the International School Award. There has been considerable staffing disruption since the last inspection. Most teachers have been appointed in the last two years and there has been an acting headteacher in post since March 2010.

Also at this postcode