Lea Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is an outstanding school.

It is outstanding because pupils' achievement is excellent, the quality of teaching is outstanding, leadership and management are first-rate, and pupils develop an exceptionally wide range of personal and academic skills that prepare them very well for their futures. In most years, children start Reception Year with the skills levels expected for their age, although writing and calculation skills are often below expected levels. They leave Reception Year well prepared for their work in Year 1.

Attainment in Year 2 and Year 6 is above average in reading, writing, and mathematics and has been in almost every year since the previous inspection. Teaching uses the man...y excellent opportunities within the exceptionally well-planned curriculum to make learning exciting and memorable for the pupils. However, the excellent marking of writing done in literacy lessons does not always extend to writing elsewhere and, when pupils mark their own work, the 'wish' for further improvement is not always clear enough.

Pupils are adept at managing their own behaviour and at helping others to manage theirs. They are very safe in school, thoroughly enjoy learning, and want very much to do well. Pupils say 'school is like a big family', where 'no one ever gets left out' and 'every part of your work has improved hugely by the time you leave'.

Their parents and carers, rightly, agree with all of that. The management of performance is excellent and the teamwork within the school and between the school, the governing body, parents, carers, and pupils is exceptional. All recognise how much the school has improved since the previous inspection and staff summed it up by saying that 'it is good to see what we have achieved together over the last few years'.

Information about the school

In this smaller than average-sized primary school, the proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is below average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs who are supported at school action plus, or who have a statement of special educational needs is average. The school meets the government's current floor standard, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

It has achieved the Activemark, Healthy School status, an ECO silver award, the intermediate International Schools award, and the Basic Skills Quality Mark. The headteacher took up post in January 2009, which was after the previous inspection. A privately run after-school club, which is inspected separately, operates on the school site.