The Aldgate School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils' achievement is outstanding. All groups of pupils, including disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs, make exceptional progress from their starting points.

Standards in reading, writing and mathematics are well above those of most schools nationally by the end of Year 6 Teaching in the Early Years Foundation Stage lays excellent foundations to help accelerate progress as pupils pass through the school from Year 1 to Year 6. Teaching is outstanding and reflects the energy and determination shown by staff, including support staff, which helps pupils to learn exceptionally well. Occasionally, limited resources mea...n teachers miss opportunities to use information and communication technology to extend learning even further.

Behaviour is exemplary throughout the school. Pupils from all cultures and backgrounds learn and play well together. The vast majority of pupils are eager to learn.

They enjoy learning and rise to the challenges provided by their teachers. Pupils, parents and staff agree that the school keeps pupils safe. Pupils know how to keep themselves safe and show concern for, and interest in, the safety of others in school.

School leaders, teachers and staff across the school have high expectations for the pupils and for themselves. They work closely with each other and with parents to ensure that pupils achieve well above national levels. Staff continually adjust the curriculum to respond to pupils' interests.

As a result, pupils find learning purposeful and work tirelessly. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural education is very strong across the school. The school is a very harmonious and supportive community.

Pupils want to learn about the wider world, including its opportunities and difficulties. Governors know the school very well. They hold school leaders rigorously to account and ensure that all aspects of the school meet the highest standards.

Information about this school

Sir John Cass's Foundation Primary School is larger than the average-sized primary school. The proportion of girls is above the national average but variable across year groups. The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives additional income (the pupil premium) is above average.

In this school, these are pupils known to be entitled to free school meals. Over four fifths of the pupils, a much higher proportion than that found nationally, are from a range of minority ethnic groups. The remaining, and largest group of pupils, are from White backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils learning English as an additional language is well above the national average. The proportion of pupils supported by school action is above average, and the proportion of pupils at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is well above average. The school does not send any pupils to be educated off-site in other institutions.

A child and family centre on the site of the school provides early education and integrated childcare. This centre has been inspected separately. The latest report can be found on the Ofsted website.

The school meets the current government floor standards, which set the minimum requirements for pupil attainment and progress. Since the previous inspection, the school has developed a partnership with another primary school in a neighbouring local authority. The schools share one executive headteacher and have separate governing bodies.

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