Barming Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The head of school provides enthusiastic, strong and focused leadership. With the support of the executive headteacher, he has built an effective and ambitious senior leadership team. Their hard work and dedication have resulted in a primary school that develops happy pupils who are keen to learn.

Leaders have a comprehensive understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses and work tirelessly to ensure sustained improvement in pupils' attainment and progress. Leaders gather, understand and use information from a variety of sources to drive improvement. However, actions are not always as sharply focused as they could be and the effects of ch...ange are not evaluated fully.

All members of staff are supportive of pupils' welfare and development. The school is committed to the inclusion of all pupils and the inclusion team works hard to ensure that all pupils attend school regularly and their needs are met. All areas of the school's curriculum are generally well planned, and assessment is improving throughout the school.

Senior staff have put timely and appropriate development plans in place to address the remaining inconsistencies in teaching. Pupils are proud of their school and enjoy their time here. They behave well and are sensitive to others' needs.

The vigilance of all staff ensures that they are safe and happy. The majority of parents and carers are positive about the school, and many recognise the challenges the new leaders have overcome. They are confident that their children are happy and safe, and that they learn well and make progress.

Governance is good. At a local level, governors are ambitious for the school. They monitor leaders' actions successfully and provide effective challenge.

However, strategic actions are not always clearly linked to the data available. The trust supports the school to a high standard.

Information about this school

Barming Primary School converted to become an academy school on 1 July 2016 and is part of the Orchard Academy Trust.

When its predecessor school was last inspected by Ofsted it was judged to be inadequate overall. Barming Primary School is larger than the average-sized primary school. It is currently two-form entry.

Most pupils are White British. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is below the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is below average.

The proportion with education, health and care plans is below the national average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils supported by the pupil premium funding is below the national average. A substantive headteacher was appointed from 1 September 2016 and the staffing structure was reorganised in September 2017.

The senior leadership team of the school consists of the head of school, director of school improvement (employed by the trust) early years and key stage leaders and special educational needs coordinator. Leadership is supported by the executive headteacher of the Orchard Trust. The school runs a daily breakfast club and after-school club.