Quotes from The Inspection Report for Richard Atkins Primary School in London, which took place in July 2009.

 

Richard Atkins Primary is a larger than average, two-form entry primary school. …one quarter of the pupils joined or left at unusual times in 2008/09, which is very much higher than in most schools. There is a very diverse mix of ethnic groups in the school…The proportion of pupils with English as an additional language is well above average. Almost half of the pupils take free school meals but the school has evidence that more pupils are entitled to do so. The number of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is well above average.

Overall effectiveness of the school: Grade 2
This is a good school. It has some outstanding features and meets the needs of its learners well. Children join the school with skills that are very much lower than those expected for their age…. the main reason for this is the very high proportion of pupils who are new to the school, those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and those with English as a second language.
Recent initiatives to improve pupils' reading skills are already beginning to show signs of significant improvement.

Effectiveness of the Foundation Stage: Grade 2
When children join the Nursery, their skills and knowledge are very much lower than is usually expected for their age. Because English is an additional language for the great majority of children, overall communication and language skills are very low and children often lack the social and personal skills that are usually expected for their age.
There is a good focus on helping children with their speaking skills and ensuring that they develop an ability to work with others in a friendly and purposeful way. As a result, children behave well and are enthusiastic in all that they do.

Curriculum and other activities: Grade 2
The curriculum is rich and diverse, which enables pupils to make good progress in all their skills. One of the considerable strengths of the curriculum is the wide range of focused intervention programmes designed to support pupils' learning. For example, the school has had considerable success in improving reading standards during the current school year by amending and enriching the literacy curriculum.