Pegasus School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

The inspiring and exemplary leadership of the headteacher and senior leaders ensures that the school offers a wide variety of rich and memorable opportunities for all pupils, regardless of their circumstances, so that they have an equal chance of being successful. Teaching is good. This is because teachers effectively use questioning to help pupils to have a deeper understanding, and teaching assistants are used well to ensure that are pupils are supported.

As a result, pupils make good progress. Pupils, from very low starting points, achieve well by the time they leave. Pupils' behaviour and attitudes to learning are good.

Pupi...ls say they feel safe in school. The school has worked exceptionally hard at establishing relationships with parents and this has supported improvements in pupils' attendance. The school caters well for those pupils who have extreme emotional difficulties and those who find themselves in very challenging circumstances.

The governing body has an excellent overview of the school's strengths and areas for development and is able to use and understand data effectively. The governors have worked with senior leaders and managers to ensure high standards of teaching and achievement have been maintained over time. Senior leaders are rigorous in checking the quality of teaching and, as a result, it is improving with more becoming outstanding.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : A few teachers do not always give pupils the next steps needed to improve their work and pupils are not always given the time to reflect on the advice given to them. There are not enough pupils reaching the higher levels in writing and pupils do not use the rich opportunities provided by the school to produce high quality writing in all subjects

Information about this school

This is a larger than average-sized school. The headteacher is seconded for two and a half days a week to prepare the school's conversion to an academy.

The deputy headteacher acts as the headteacher during this time. From September 2013, he will become the head of school as the headteacher moves to become the executive headteacher of the Blackbird Trust of three schools, including this one. The school will close on 31 July 2013 as it will become part of a multi academy trust on 1 August 2013.

Since the previous inspection there have many changes to the teaching staff. Most pupils are from a White British background. The proportion of pupils from a minority ethnic background is above average.

Those who have English as an additional language is similar to the national average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is above average. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also above average.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium funding (additional funding for looked after children, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children from service families) is above the national average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The school makes use of alternative provision at The Harbour to support pupils at risk of exclusion, which is situated at Rosehill Primary School.

There is a parallel provision on the school site for other schools in the local authority. The school runs a stay and play group twice a week for parents with babies and toddlers. The governing body provides a breakfast club and a site-based community café.