The Bilingual Primary School has been rated good by Ofsted with the three inspectors praising the progress made by pupils in learning Spanish.
Ofsted said: “Spanish is taught well and pupils at different stages of fluency in Spanish develop their skills well.”
Just 30 to 40 of the 338 children come from Spanish-speaking homes at the school in The Droveway, Hove, on the edge of Hove Park.
And a similar number are not native Spanish or English speakers yet Ofsted said: “Pupils develop as well-rounded, confident individuals who achieve well in all that they do and are successful bilingual learners.”
The report, which is due to be published at the end of the week, said: “Over the past year, the successful work of the head teacher, deputy head teacher and senior leaders, including governors, has resulted in rapid improvement. Pupils’ achievement (and) behaviour and the quality of teaching and learning are all now good.
“The head teacher provides highly effective, motivating and inspiring leadership for the school.
“Pupils, parents, staff and governors are justifiably proud of their good school.
“Teachers plan interesting lessons. Pupils are inspired and motivated by their teachers.
“Pupils are well behaved in lessons and around the school. They feel safe and happy at school and are well looked after.
“Parents are exceptionally positive about all aspects of the school’s work.”
One parent told inspectors that the school was inspiring. It moved to its permanent home in Hove in February after opening in Falmer in space loaned by the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA).
Ofsted said: “The head teacher provides highly effective leadership that has resulted in improvements in all aspects of the school’s work since the previous inspection.
“One parent commented, ‘The school is well led and managed by the new head teacher who is friendly, approachable and caring yet absolutely professional.’
“The head teacher has motivated, inspired and energised staff, pupils and parents and morale is high as a result.
“One parent wrote, ‘The head teacher has totally transformed the morale of the teachers, the behaviour of pupils and the attitude of parents for the better.’
“The head teacher is very well supported by the deputy head teacher. They, along with other leaders including governors, share the vision, determination and ambition to provide the best possible learning and personal experiences for pupils.”
Oftsed added: “Governance has improved significantly.”
It also said: “From the beginning of this school year, pupils are learning through a newly designed curriculum, which is based on four principles of fostering curiosity, collaboration, perseverance and autonomy.
“It is broad and balanced and covers all aspects of the English national curriculum as well as the Spanish curriculum.
“Pupils’ bilingual learning is promoted very effectively through all aspects of the curriculum.
“Teachers and teaching assistants work very well together. All teaching assistants are Spanish language speakers and along with other staff make a significant contribution to pupils’ bilingual learning.
“There is an appropriate emphasis on teaching reading, writing, mathematics and Spanish and increasingly good opportunities to develop these skills in other subjects, particularly writing.
“All social and organisational language throughout the school day is in Spanish, which very effectively enhances pupils’ bilingual skills.
“Pupils’ achievement has improved since the previous inspection and is now good.
“Pupils’ work in their books and the school’s information about progress show that pupils currently in the school made at least good progress last year from their different starting points across a range of subjects including reading, writing, mathematics and Spanish.
“In all year groups, most pupils made good and some made outstanding progress from
their starting points.
“Attendance is below the national average. The proportion of pupils who are persistently absent is higher than the national figure.”
The latest inspection took place in early October – almost four weeks ago – just over two years after Ofsted told the new school that it required improvement.
This time the inspectors said: “Adults interact well with children, asking good questions that develop children’s thinking and problem-solving skills as well as their language skills, in English and Spanish.
“Around one fifth of the pupils are from bilingual homes and Spanish is spoken in the home for around half of these pupils.
“The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is above that found nationally. Around two thirds of these pupils are fluent or competent speakers of English.
“The large majority of pupils are of White British heritage and the next largest group of pupils are from other White backgrounds.
“The school teaches a Spanish curriculum alongside the English national curriculum. Spanish and English are used for learning throughout the school.”
Head teacher Wendy King said: “I am really pleased that the hard work and commitment from everyone has been recognised by Ofsted. I am very proud to be part of such a fantastic community.”
Maggie Carroll, who chairs the school’s board of governors, said: “This splendid outcome for the school is much deserved.
“Wendy, the head teacher, has led her committed and able staff with care, with ambition for the children and with drive and has now secured for the school a strong foundation for achieving its vision.
“The governors and I recognise that the support from parents and carers is a key aspect of the school’s success. Well done everyone!”
The school is holding an open day for parents trying to choose where to send their children next September.
Ms King will give a talk followed by a tour of the school at 9.45am and again at 7pm on Tuesday 15 November.
