Muscliff Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school. It is not yet outstanding because inconsistencies in teaching mean pupils' progress is good rather than excellent and the monitoring of teaching is not rigorous enough.

Pupils' outstanding behaviour is a considerable strength. Pupils thoroughly enjoy school life, show great maturity and independence and an unwavering enthusiasm for learning. Bullying is virtually unknown and pupils, parents and carers are rightly fully confident that the school is a safe and caring environment.

Teaching has improved and is good overall, with a growing proportion of outstanding lessons. Most lessons are lively, enjoyable and run at a good pace. Thorough marking and target setting greatly ...assist pupils in understanding their next steps in learning.

A few lessons do not adapt work sufficiently to meet all pupils' needs. Leaders undertake numerous activities to monitor teaching, but some evaluations are insufficiently focused on pupils' learning. Excellent behaviour and good teaching contribute to good progress throughout the school.

Children make a good start in the Early Years Foundations Stage and develop skills well; they acquire excellent learning habits such as concentration and self-sufficiency. This provides a powerful launch pad for their learning; good progress continues across Key Stages 1 and 2. Attainment by the end of Year 6 is above average and the inclusive nature of the school ensures the achievement of all groups is good.

Leaders and managers share their ambition and vision for the school with staff and promote improvement well. Excellent analysis of assessment informs clear self-evaluation and perceptive future planning; it also promotes performance management. The curriculum provides memorable experiences for pupils with good enrichment opportunities and effective promotion of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Parents and carers are almost unanimous in their approval of all aspects of the school.

Information about the school

Muscliff is a larger than average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is below average.

There are fewer than average numbers of pupils from minority ethnic groups and those who do not speak English as their first language. The proportion of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or supported by school action plus is average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.