Pirehill First School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school.

Pupils make consistently good progress in both their academic and personal development. Almost all pupils reach or exceed the standards expected for their age by the time they leave the school. It is not outstanding because the progress of the most able pupils is not quite as good as others.

Pupils make good progress. Children join the Reception class with understanding, knowledge and skills that are typical for their age. They make good progress in each year group and leave with attainment that is well above average.

Pupils respond well to the school's high expectations of behaviour. Children are taught good manners and positive behaviour in the Reception class..., and these attributes are built upon as pupils move through the school. Pupils have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

Attendance is above average. Pupils are taught well. There is a strong focus on teaching the basic skills of reading, writing and mathematics.

Teachers explain tasks and concepts exceptionally well. Pupils of middle ability often make rapid progress, but the tasks given to the most able are not always equally as challenging, and learning time is sometimes lost when tasks are not given quickly enough. The headteacher provides decisive leadership and is well supported by other managers and the governing body.

The leadership of teaching and the management of performance are good. Monitoring of teaching is thorough and the results are used well to improve its quality. The results of monitoring are not always compared with the analyses of data on pupils' progress to draw up priorities for improvement.

The school has excellent partnerships with parents, who are overwhelmingly positive about the education their children receive.

Information about the school

Pirehill First School is smaller than most primary schools. The number on roll has risen each year since the school was last inspected.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is average. Almost all pupils are of White British heritage. The rest of the school population is made up of small numbers of pupils from a range of different minority ethnic groups.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is average. The school shares its site with Smarty's pre-school, which also provides breakfast club and after-school clubs. None of these are managed by the school's governing body so are subject to a separate inspection.

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