River Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The school has maintained the high standards from the previous inspection.

Teachers and teaching assistants have very high expectations of what pupils can achieve. Teachers and teaching assistants make an exceptional contribution to the progress and learning of all pupils. This includes pupils in receipt of support through the pupil premium.

All groups of pupils make rapid progress across the school. Standards by the end of Year 6 are above average. Lessons are exciting and capture the pupils' interest.

Pupils are motivated to work hard and be successful. The range of subjects and activities on offer meets the needs and ...interests of pupils well. Literacy and numeracy skills are reinforced in other subjects.

Children get off to an excellent start in Reception class as a result of outstanding quality teaching. Disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs achieve highly and make rapid progress. The behaviour of pupils of all ages is outstanding.

Pupils work hard and apply themselves very well to different situations. They are proud of their achievements and of their school. Pupils say they feel very safe in the school and know who to talk to if they have a concern.

The headteacher is a highly effective leader, with a clear plan for the future of the school. Together with the full support of senior leaders, subject leaders and governors, she has overseen significant improvements since the school's previous inspection. The governing body has an excellent understanding of the strengths of the school and its priorities for future development.

The governors play an important role in both supporting and challenging, including asking searching questions of school leaders. Parents are fully involved in their children's education and speak very highly of the school, saying it is part of 'their community'.

Information about this school

River Primary is a larger-than-average-sized primary school.

The large majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils who are known to be eligible for the pupil premium is below average. This is additional funding for pupils entitled to free school meals, those in the care of the local authority and those with a parent in the armed services.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is above average. The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The school is part of a group of local primary schools, the Samphire Learning Hub, who work together to offer support and share good practice with each other to help raise outcomes for children. The school runs a breakfast club and after-school provision, in the form of a number of activities, and these were included in the inspection. The school has a number of awards and accreditations including Green Travel Mark, School Games Kite Mark and Every Child a Reader accreditation.