Gillingham St Michael’s Church of England Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics because teaching is good. Practical, problem-solving mathematics' lessons have a real 'buzz' of activity.

Pupils are very enthusiastic to apply their skills. No time is wasted in lessons because staff and pupils have such positive relationships. Pupils known to be eligible for pupil-premium funding do equally as well as others.

Extra help, often in small groups and tailored precisely to their needs, means pupils with special educational needs, and those who struggle, do well. Pupils say, and their parents agree, that they feel safe in school. The vast majority of pupils behave... well.

The effective curriculum is built on first-hand experiences and relevant activities. Staff form an excellent team. Morale is high, everything they do is for the benefit of pupils.

Good quality training is given high priority so teaching is always improving to pupils' benefit. The headteacher and governors manage the school well. They are forward-thinking.

Leaders have brought about very good improvements to teaching and pupils' achievements since the previous inspection. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Questioning is not used enough to encourage pupils to think further. When marking work, teachers do not always make it clear how pupils can improve it.

Achievement in writing is not as strong as in reading and mathematics, especially for more-able pupils. Improvement plans do not make clear what success will look like.

Information about this school

This is a much smaller-than-average sized primary school.

All pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium (the extra government funding for children looked after by the local authority, known to be eligible for free school meals or whose families are in the armed forces) is below average. The proportion of pupils supported through school action is below average.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or a statement of special educational needs is above average. Pupils are taught in two mixed-aged classes, one for four to seven year-olds and the other for seven to 11 year-olds. There were too few Year 6 pupils in 2012 to comment on floor standards.