Palmers Cross Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have brought about many improvements to the school.

Since the school reopened as an academy, the curriculum, quality of teaching and pupils' behaviour have all improved. These positive changes have served to lift academic standards and improve school life. Standards at the end of key stages 1 and 2 have risen.

In 2018, progress across key stage 2 was very strong and was in the top 3% of schools nationally. At the end of Year 6, the proportions of pupils reaching the expected standards for their age in reading, writing and mathematics were all above average. Across the school, teaching is good.

Work is usually pitched just... right for pupils' different abilities, and teachers offer lots of encouragement to spur pupils on. At times, a few pupils make mistakes that go unnoticed or teachers do not ask the right questions in order to check what they understand. In some cases, resources to support learning are not ideal.

Teachers in the early years classes respond quickly to children's needs. Classrooms are full of purposeful, exciting things to do, and children learn quickly and enjoy school. The school is a calm and orderly place to work and learn.

Pupils are attentive to their teachers and friendly to one another. They behave well. Safety routines are efficient.

Problems are sorted out quickly, and pupils feel safe in school. The speech and language resource base provides effective support for pupils' complex needs. There is scope to strengthen this provision as leaders' expertise increases.

Most teaching in English, mathematics and science builds logically on pupils' previous learning. The curriculum includes a broad range of other subjects but, in some, planning for progression as pupils move up through the school could be improved. The quality of writing produced by some of the most able pupils is excellent.

The direction provided by the multi-academy trust (MAT) has strengthened governance and leadership. Senior staff, trustees and governors bring informed ambition and consistent expectations to all aspects of the school's work. New leaders are still settling into their roles and are benefiting from guidance provided by colleagues from other trust schools.

Staff morale is high.

Information about this school

The school is a bit smaller than the average-sized primary school. Approximately half of pupils are White British.

Approximately one fifth of pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is above the national average. The proportion of pupils at the school with SEND is above the national average.

The school has a speech and language resource base with capacity for ten pupils with complex needs. In 2016, the school became an academy and part of Elston Hall MAT. The MAT's board of trustees is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the MAT's schools.

The trustees employ a CEO to oversee and work with all the schools in the MAT. At a local level, a governing body oversees Palmers Cross Primary School. The current headteacher took up her post in 2018.

An associate headteacher, employed by the MAT, provides some support to the school. The school provides before-school childcare at a breakfast club. The school has a Nursery class, which admits three-year-olds.