Tudhoe Colliery Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils achieve highly in all key stages.

Rapid progress typifies their learning in reading, writing and mathematics, although now and then progress is a little less rapid in writing. Children make good and often rapid progress in the vibrant Early Years Foundation Stage. The most able pupils make particularly fast progress, because their thinking is constantly stretched and their understanding deepened.

There is no gap in achievement between pupils eligible for the pupil premium funding and their peers. The quality of teaching is outstanding. Teachers have high expectations and they plan and organise work skilfully to ensure that... all pupils are clear about what is expected of them.

Highly effective intervention and support makes certain that pupils with complex needs can make rapid progress and achieve highly. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary and relationships with staff are extremely warm, trusting and friendly. Pupils are considerate and kind with each other.

All feel safe and secure in school. The headteacher provides strong, inspirational leadership. He is ably supported by a talented deputy headteacher.

Together leaders, managers and staff form a strong team who are all equally determined to ensure that pupils achieve as well as they possibly can. The excellent curriculum is rich in opportunities to promote pupils' academic and personal development. It supports the development of their critical thinking, reasoning and creative skills exceptionally well.

Parents are making an increasingly positive contribution to the quality of their children's learning and development. A dynamic and highly effective governing body provides valuable support and challenge. It holds the school to account in positive ways.

Its members have an excellent understanding of school performance and provide clear direction for the school's future. Since the previous inspection, the school has made considerable progress at a very brisk pace.

Information about this school

This is a smaller-than-average sized primary school.

Almost all children are of White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils supported through school action is twice the national average. The proportion at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average.

Currently, very few pupils are eligible for pupil premium funding. The pupil premium is additional funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children who are looked after by the local authority and children from service families. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics.

The school provides a breakfast and after-school club each day. The school became an academy in December 2012 and is part of the Tudhoe Learning Trust, a group of four primary schools of which the headteacher of Tudhoe Colliery Primary is the executive headteacher. It was subject to an HMI monitoring visit in October 2013.