Whitchurch CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Almost all pupils make at least good progress in all their lessons as a result of highly skilful teaching. Teachers expect pupils to do well, whatever their starting points, and plan for this accordingly.

Standards in reading, writing and numeracy at the end of Years 2 and 6 are rapidly improving and are above national averages. Pupils want to succeed. They have a hunger for learning and behave impeccably both in lessons and around the school.

All pupils feel safe in school and know what to do to avoid potentially dangerous situations. The school is exceptionally well led and managed. The inspirational headteacher has assembled a... unified staff team in a relentless drive to improve teaching and learning.

All the school's leaders are highly effective in achieving this by thoroughly checking teaching and pupil progress. The governing body is fully supportive of the headteacher and senior leaders. They are very knowledgeable about all aspects of the school.

They are tenacious and challenging and insist the headteacher explains clearly about the work and life of the school.

Information about this school

The school is much smaller than the average sized primary school although the number on roll is rising rapidly. The proportion of pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals or looked after by the local authority, for whom the school receives additional income (the pupil premium), is well below average although the number known to be eligible for free school meals has increased significantly in recent years.

The proportion of disabled pupils, those with a statement of special educational needs or those who need extra support at school action plus is above the proportion found nationally although the percentage at school action is broadly average. Their needs relate mostly to specific learning difficulties. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups and who are known to speak English as an additional language is very low but growing.

A much higher proportion of pupils than nationally, almost a third of those on roll, join the school at a later starting point than Reception, with many joining well into Key Stage 2. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The new Chair of the Governing Body took up his post two weeks before the inspection.

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