Curry Mallet Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils' achievement at the end of Year 6 has been excellent for a number of years.

Pupils' attainment at the end of Year 2 in reading and writing over the last few years has been on an upwards trajectory and is now above that seen nationally. More able pupils are set harder work, especially in mathematics, so they can achieve the highest levels. Teaching has been very effective in motivating and engaging pupils, and has enabled them to make excellent progress from their starting points.

Pupils say they feel safe and very well looked after. Behaviour in the school is excellent and makes an outstanding contribution to pupils' learn...ing. Curry Mallet Primary School is very much an inclusive school where there is a determination for all pupils to achieve well.

The school is very well led by the headteacher who, although new to the role, has a wealth of experience working in the school and has a very good understanding of its strengths and areas that can be developed further. The middle leadership team has quickly got to grips with its new role and is already making an impact. The governing body is very supportive, yet holds the school to account for the progress of all of the pupils.

The school's values and beliefs are shared with the pupils and these contribute to pupils' excellent social, moral, spiritual and cultural development. School leaders, including governors, have worked well to improve the quality of teaching and raise pupils' achievement since the last inspection. They have sustained pupils' high attainment over a number of years and are committed to developing the quality of teaching further.

Pupils are very well prepared to move on to secondary school.

Information about this school

Curry Mallet Primary School is situated in of the village of Curry Mallet. It is much smaller than the average-size primary school.

It draws most of its pupils from the village and the nearby village of Beercrocombe, Isle Abbotts and Fivehead. The school is organised into three mixed-age classes. There are only a few pupils from ethnic backgrounds other than White British attending the school.

Only a very small number of pupils are supported by the pupil premium (additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, looked after children and those from service families). The proportion of pupils with special educational needs supported at school action is a little above the national average. There were fewer than 11 Year 6 pupils that took national tests last year, so the school's results are not compared against government's current floor standards which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The proportion of pupils who are supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is similar to the national average. The headteacher was appointed in January 2014, having been promoted from within the school. Several other recent appointments to the teaching team have also been made, with staff joining at the same time or at the end of the last academic year.