Ofsted Report

Introduction

The inspection was carried out by one Additional Inspector in July 2006. The school has been informed that due to its maintaining standards it will not be inspected again until September 2011

Description of the school

This larger than average school is situated on the outskirts of Rochdale and serves a mainly residential area. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is low. Just under a third of pupils are from minority ethnic groups and the percentage who have English as an additional language is well above average. The number of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is well below average. Bamford Primary holds the Healthy Schools award, ActiveMark and has been recognised by the Department for Education and Skills for its outstanding development of the international dimension across the curriculum.

Overall effectiveness of the school

Grade: 2

As parents say, 'Bamford Primary School is well organised, well run and is a positive and happy environment for children to develop and learn.' They are overwhelmingly supportive of this good school, which has several outstanding features.

Pupils are very proud of their school and have a perceptive understanding of what it is trying to do for them. They recognise that their teachers want to enliven the already outstanding curriculum even further and that they introduce fun into lessons to help them learn. They also see that learning in one subject links with that in others and that music, drama and sport are important if their physical and emotional development is to be fostered.

Standards have been consistently above average for several years and pupils make good progress across the school and achieve well. Although their attainment is still above average, some of the most able pupils do not always reach the levels of which they are capable in the tests at the end of Year 6. One reason for this is because they are not always given opportunities for independent work to challenge them to reach higher standards. From the Reception year onwards, pupils thrive on good teaching and value the many opportunities they have to use new technology in their lessons. The striking displays of pupils' work demonstrate the high levels of enjoyment and the vibrant atmosphere in all areas of the school.

Pupils' personal development is outstanding. Visitors are welcomed warmly and pupils are desperate to tell them just how good their school is. Pupils are confident yet modest and behave impeccably in lessons and throughout school. Older pupils look after younger ones and the school council has the highest reputation among its constituents. 'They do so much for us and make so many good suggestions about how to make our school even better,' they say. Pupils have a keen understanding of the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and their work in citizenship has taught them much about their responsibilities within a democratic society. They are actively involved in a range of community and environmental projects and charity appeals are a strong feature of school life. They get on very well with each other and are delighted when their classmates succeed.

This is an inclusive school and teachers and teaching assistants provide good levels of care for all pupils, irrespective of their ability levels or learning difficulties. Pupils are confident to approach adults if they have problems and they are grateful for the support they get both inside and outside the classroom. Pupils' personal and academic progress is tracked carefully but the school is aware that the assessment of pupils' work needs greater consistency to ensure targets for improvement are more focused and sufficiently challenging.

The school is led and managed well and the headteacher has a clear vision for its future development and for the welfare of both children and adults. All staff are committed to on-going improvements in all aspects of provision and they are supported by the well-informed governing body, which is not afraid to challenge the leadership when necessary. The school knows itself well, but is sometimes a little modest in highlighting its strengths because it believes it can always do better.

In Bamford Primary School, harmony, engagement and enjoyment are the norm. Mutual respect abounds and all members of the school community benefit from a safe and stimulating learning environment. Good achievement and the strengths in personal development, the curriculum and leadership and management demonstrate that it has good capacity to improve further.

What the school should do to improve further

• Provide more opportunities for pupils to work independently so that the more able are challenged appropriately and reach the standards of which they are capable.
• Ensure that the assessment of pupils' work is consistently accurate in order that more focused targets for improvement may be set.

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Ofsted Report  -  93.38 KB