Aston St Mary’s Church of England Aided Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

The headteacher is an inspirational leader. She is very effectively supported by the other highly effective leaders, governors and staff. As a result, all aspects of the school have improved and are now outstanding.

The governing body uses the wide range of its members' skills very well to support and challenge the leaders consistently and effectively. The curriculum provides pupils with an exciting array of subjects that are planned very effectively to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Pupils' behaviour and attitudes to learning are exemplary.

This contributes considerably to the school's ...harmonious environment and pupils' achievement. They are very considerate of others and readily help each other to learn. Pupils feel safe and secure because the school's work to keep them safe and secure is outstanding.

Pupils' achievement is outstanding. All pupils, including those who are supported by extra funds, the disabled and those who have special educational needs, make rapid progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Standards by the end of Year 6 are high.

In reading, in 2014, the average was more than a year ahead of most Year 6 pupils' nationally. Teaching is outstanding as a result of leaders' rigorous checks on teachers' performance and a wide range of opportunities for training. Teachers expect the pupils to do their very best in class.

Pupils respond by always aiming high and trying hard. Leaders are fully aware of remaining refinements needed, in teachers' marking. Children make outstanding progress in Reception and develop their reading and writing skills very effectively and rapidly.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school. Pupils are taught in five mixed-age classes. These are for Reception-age children, and for pupils in Years 1 and 2, Years 2 and 3, Years 3 and 4 and Years 5 and 6.

Almost all pupils are of White British heritage. Few pupils are from minority ethnic groups and a small number of pupils speak English as an additional language. Approximately a seventh of the pupils are eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for disadvantaged pupils.

This is a below-average proportion. Around a ninth of the pupils are disabled or have special educational needs. This is broadly average.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. The school is a member of a local primary and secondary schools consortium. Several pupils leave the school at the end of Year 4 to join middle schools in the area.