The Croft Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Through highly effective leadership and planning, this new school has got off to an exceptional start. Children in Reception are making rapid gains in their learning.

Pupils in Year 1 are making outstanding progress and standards in reading, writing and mathematics are high. Pupils are confident readers and write high quality extended pieces. They successfully solve mathematical problems.

Excellent teaching successfully promotes high quality learning for pupils. Teaching and support help to make sure that all groups of pupils make at least good, and often outstanding, progress. Leaders and staff have created a very positive atmos...phere and a stimulating environment where pupils learn and develop.

Pupils are enthusiastic learners who participate well in the learning activities. Pupils are extremely well behaved and work very well with others. Attendance levels are above average.

Procedures to ensure pupils are safe are highly effective. Pupils feel safe and very well looked after by staff. Pupils enjoy the wide range of learning activities provided including sports clubs and educational visits.

The executive headteachers and Principal provide strong leadership in promoting pupils' achievement and in developing teaching. Subject leaders and staff support the senior leaders well. Governors work very well with the school and are committed to its future development.

The White Horse Federation of schools work extremely well together and the sharing of expertise benefits pupil achievement and staff development in all the schools. Parents rightly hold very positive views about the care and education provided.

Information about this school

The Croft Primary is a new school which opened in September 2012 with the admission of Reception children.

The school is part of the White Horse Federation, a Swindon-based Multi Academy Trust that sponsors six primary schools, a special school and one secondary school. The school currently has two classes of Reception children and two classes of Year 1 pupils. It will gradually build up to an all-through primary school with pupils from Reception to Year 6.

About two thirds of the pupils are White British. Other pupils come from a range of ethnic heritages, including other White backgrounds and Indian. About a third of the pupils speak English as an additional language.

Languages spoken other than English include Hindi, Polish and Portuguese. A number of pupils are at an early stage of learning English. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is below average.

The proportion supported through school action plus or a statement of special educational needs is also below average. A below average proportion of pupils are supported by the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for pupils in local authority care and those known to be eligible for free school meals. The school is led by two executive headteachers, who also work in other schools, and a Principal who is based at The Croft.

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