Appleshaw St Peter’s CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. School leaders and governors secure school improvement through their high expectations and robust actions that effectively tackle any weaknesses. Pupils rightly judge that this is a good school; they are happy and feel safe at all times.

Behaviour is good and pupils say that there is no bullying. They are absolutely confident that adults would deal immediately with any instances that might arise. Pupils achieve well because teachers take care to explain everything so well, the work they are set is at the right level of challenge and help is on hand if pupils get stuck.

Pupils enjoy lessons and try hard to do well. They are enthusiastic a...bout homework and really enjoy the topic work. Pupils' attendance is exceptionally high.

The great majority of parents and carers agree with their children's positive views of the school. It is not yet an outstanding school because: Pupils have limited opportunities to make decisions about their work. Pupils do not always have sufficient guidance in lessons to allow them to make accurate assessments of their own achievements.

Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are not sufficiently challenged in their learning. They rely too heavily on the direction and guidance of adults so that they do not always increase their independence.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than most primary schools and has four classes.

One in five pupils are known to be eligible for the pupil premium; this is below average. The pupil premium provides additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and for pupils who have a parent or carer who is serving in the regular military units of Her Majesty's Forces. No pupils are of minority ethnic heritage or are learning English as an additional language; this is much lower than average.

The proportion of pupils with special educational needs supported through school action is broadly in line with the national average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs, supported through school action plus or with a statement, is about half the national average. This small group mainly have specific or moderate learning difficulties or behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

The school does not use any alternative provision for disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. There have been several staff changes since the last inspection.