The school is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. Most pupils are White British. A few pupils come from minority ethnic groups. Very few pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is below average. In this school, the additional funding is for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is below average. The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is about average. The school meets the government’s current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils’ attainment and progress in English and mathematics. Pupils are taught in one of three mixed-age classes; Class 1 for the Reception Year and Year 1, Class 2 for Years 2 and 3 and Class 3 for Years 4, 5 and 6. Year groups are small and vary between five and 10 pupils. The headteacher is a national leader of education (NLE). Through the local authority and the National College of Leadership, she provides support to other primary schools to improve their overall effectiveness. Mary Howard Primary School is in federation with St Andrew’s Primary School. This is a school judged by Ofsted to be outstanding. Both schools have the same headteacher and governing body. They have recently started to operate a shared budget.