Pilgrim Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

All pupils make outstanding progress at this school, especially in learning to read and write, and in developing skills of numeracy. Children joining Reception quickly acquire the communication and social skills needed to learn effectively. Many children start school with limited social skills, but by Year 1 they concentrate well and work independently and in groups.

Those pupils who are at an early stage of learning English rapidly become confident in the language. Pupils who left Year 6 in 2012, including those who were disabled or had special educational needs, made outstanding progress. Many reached or exceeded average standa...rds and all exceeded national averages in all measures of progress.

Teaching is outstanding because teachers have very high expectations of their pupils and use assessment exceptionally well to plan suitable work. Teachers and their assistants are highly skilled at teaching pupils to read and in giving support to those who need it. Marking of work is a particular strength and pupils greatly appreciate the quality of the feedback they receive.

Relationships with adults and between all pupils, who come from a diverse range of backgrounds, are excellent and promote outstanding behaviour. Pupils are punctual and attend well, their attendance being above the average for similar schools. There has been excellent improvement since the previous inspection, with a year-on-year rise in pupils' attainment and progress in both English and mathematics.

This is because : leaders and managers use data exceptionally well, tracking the progress of individuals and potentially disadvantaged groups to identify needs and enable more rapid progress. Teachers' performance is managed very well and their morale is exceptionally high. The pupil premium is used very effectively to enhance the progress of eligible pupils.

As a result, there is little difference in the attainment or progress of those pupils eligible for the pupil premium when compared with others. The governing body is very effective in challenging school leaders and monitoring the school's work, deploying all its resources to ensure continued exceptional pupil achievement.

Information about this school

This primary school is of smaller-than-average size and serves part of the city centre.

The housing in the area includes temporary accommodation and short-term lets. As a result, only about two thirds of the pupils remain at the school throughout their primary school careers, which is well below average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported by school action is average, while the proportion supported by school action plus or with statements of special educational needs is well above average.

These pupils have a range of needs that include physical disabilities and moderate learning or behavioural difficulties. More than half the pupils are eligible for the pupil premium, which is well above average. The pupil premium provides additional funding for children in local authority care, pupils eligible for free school meals and children of families in the armed services.

More than one quarter of the pupils speak a language other than English at home, which is well above average. The languages they speak at home include Arabic, Kurdish and Portuguese. Many of these pupils are at an early stage of learning English when they join the school.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. In September 2012, the school became a founder member of the South-West Plymouth Educational Trust. The trust comprises six primary schools and other providers of educational services for children from birth to age 11.