The Orion Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. 'The Principal is the driving force behind a truly inspirational school', commented a member of staff, reflecting the views of many. The Orion Primary School serves its pupils extremely well.

It has maintained and built upon the excellence reported at the previous inspection. The Principal's dynamic and highly energetic leadership has inspired leaders, managers and all staff to make each day special for the school's many pupils. Teaching is outstanding, enabling pupils to make rapid progress from their different starting points so that they leave Year 6 with standards in reading, writing and mathematics that are well above average.
...r/>High-quality leadership of teaching and learning means that teachers and support staff improve quickly. Leaders are especially successful at developing new staff and those starting out in their careers. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding as they have a real thirst for knowledge and are extremely enthusiastic about learning.

All parents and carers agree with the pupils' view that pupils are kept safe in school and have an excellent understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe. A wide range of subjects is tailored to pupils' interests and motivates them to excel. Pupils have numerous opportunities to take part in visits and clubs that enrich their experiences.

The school promotes pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding very well, enabling them to gain an excellent understanding of life in modern Britain. Governors have a highly developed understanding of how well the school is doing and keep themselves extremely well informed about its progress. This enables them to ask probing questions and challenge senior leaders about its performance.

Good provision in the early years enables children to make an effective start in gaining basic literacy and numeracy skills. However, staff do not make prompt use of information about how groups of children are doing to ensure they make even faster progress.

Information about this school

The school is much larger than the average-sized primary school.

There are four classes in Year 1, three classes in Years 2, 3 and 4, and two classes in Years 5 and 6. In successive years the school accepted 'bulge' classes from Barnet Local Authority that is pupils who had been unable to find places at any other school. These pupils arrived late in the school year, many with limited prior education.

Early years provision is full time in the five Reception classes. There is also a Nursery that runs part-time sessions. Nine in 10 pupils come from a wide range of minority ethnic backgrounds; this is a very high proportion.

Over two thirds of pupils speak English as an additional language, many of whom are at the early stages of learning English; this proportion is well above average. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium (additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals or looked after by the local authority) is well above average. The proportion of pupils identified as disabled or with special educational needs is well above average.

The school has specially resourced provision for disabled pupils and those with special educational needs, catering for autism. This has recently opened and has six children and pupils from Reception and Year 1. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' progress and attainment in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Key Stage 2.

In April 2014, the school moved from its old site to a new, purpose-built building on the north-western edge of Grahame Park. The school is federated with Goldbeaters Primary School and shares a Principal and governing body. Together they form the Gold Star Federation.