Mount Pleasant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils make good progress in a wide range of subjects. They frequently produce good quality and well presented work across a broad curriculum. Pupils' progress in reading is rapid.

Irrespective of their starting points, they develop quickly into capable, confident readers. Many pupils enjoy getting 'lost' in a book. Pupils' good behaviour and positive attitudes play a large part in making the school a calm and purposeful place to learn.

Good teaching across Key Stages 1 and 2 ensures that pupils achieve well in a wide range of subjects. Where teaching in the Foundation Stage 1 and 2 (FS1 and FS2) class is less consistent, it is ...improving rapidly. Pupils feel safe and are well supervised.

They respond well to adults and show a good understanding of how to maintain their personal safety and well-being. The headteacher has shown determination in dealing with fluctuating levels of staffing. At all times she has maintained a clear direction and drive for improvement.

Senior leaders have developed innovative partnerships that have helped to develop teaching and increase staff knowledge and skills. Senior and middle leaders set high expectations. Their more rigorous monitoring has resulted in raising the quality of teaching across the school.

Members of the school governance committee use their professional knowledge and skills well to provide support and challenge for the school. The school's curriculum provides stimulating activities and develops pupils' understanding of life beyond the school. Wide-ranging trips, visits and activities add to pupils' experiences and play a significant part in developing pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Adults in the FS1 and FS2 class are not always given clear instructions on how to increase levels of challenge to move children on in their learning. Children in the FS1 and FS2 class have limited opportunities to develop their new skills and knowledge independently, especially in the outdoor environment. During staff illness and absence over the last term, pupils in Years 3 and 4 have not consistently been provided with mathematical activities that challenge them to produce their best work.

However, a new member of staff is already raising pupils' mathematical achievement.

Information about this school

The school is a smaller than the average-sized primary school. It provides for the children of the British forces and attached civilians based at the Mount Pleasant Complex.

The vast majority of pupils attending the school are of White heritage and speak English as their first language. Mobility is very high with typically over half of pupils staying at the school for 12 months. Few pupils stay at the school through an entire key stage.

The percentage of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs has risen over the last two years and is broadly average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. Since the last section 5 inspection, there have been a number of significant staff changes.

Five members of staff left the school in the previous academic year including two class teachers: replacements have not been immediately available. The Chair of the School Governance Committee took up the role in the last month. The school provides Early Years provision for children aged 2 to 5 years on the school site.

Nursery- and Reception-aged children (FS1 and FS2) are included in the school's Early Years class, which was inspected as part of the school's provision. The Early Years Unit based on the school site provides part-time provision for children aged 2 to 3 years. This provision is not inspected by Ofsted and was not, therefore, part of this inspection.