Merton Abbey Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have tackled successfully, with persistence and determination, the areas for improvement from the previous inspection.

As a result, the school is now good. Leaders, including governors, have a secure understanding of the school's strengths and areas that require further improvement. Development planning is focused sharply on the appropriate priorities and is checked regularly for the impact that actions are having on driving up standards across the school.

Middle leaders' strategies to improve the school are new. They are not yet fully embedded or having maximum impact as they do not monitor the implementation and impact of these ...new strategies. Leaders have ensured that there is an effective approach to teaching across the school.

They have made regular checks and acted swiftly to rectify any weaknesses. As a result, the quality of teaching and learning across the school is now good. Most pupils make good progress due to effective teaching.

Just occasionally, teachers do not have high enough expectations, therefore do not provide pupils with work that sufficiently challenges them. Parents and carers rightly have renewed confidence in leaders. The quality of early years provision is good.

Staff help children to settle quickly and make strong progress from their starting points. However, on occasion, children lack the confidence to make the most of some activities. Pupils behave well and relate extremely well to each other and to staff.

Pupils' strong social awareness and enjoyment of school are clearly evident during break times. They exchange ideas and aid each other's learning during lessons. Staff and pupils are proud of the school and its nurturing ethos.

The school's warm and inclusive culture provides an environment where pupils feel safe and valued. The school offers a curriculum that enables pupils to build their knowledge and skills effectively over time, particularly in English and mathematics. However, this is not as well developed in other subjects.

Furthermore, pupils do not write in as much depth outside of their English lessons. Governors share leaders' ambition and vision for the school. They have a good understanding of the quality of teaching and have made some innovative, long-term decisions which have been successful in improving achievement.

Information about this school

Since the inspection of the school in March 2017, the school has had several changes in staffing, including new middle leaders and teachers. Merton Abbey Primary School is an average-sized primary school. The majority of pupils are from a White British background, with pupils from any other White background forming the next sizeable ethnic group.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is well above the national average. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is above the national average and in the top 20% of schools nationally. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average.

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