Barningham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteachers' high ambition for the school and for each and every pupil is shared by all staff. Together, they ensure that pupils make good progress both academically and in their personal growth.

Leaders and governors have an accurate understanding of where the school's strengths lie and where improvements still need to be made. Leaders ensure that pupils are well cared for and safe in school. Teachers know their pupils and their families well.

Pupils' behaviour around the school and in lessons is excellent. Pupils display great enthusiasm for learning. They and their parents and carers are very positive about all aspects of the scho...ol.

The early years provides a great start to children's education. From the moment they join the school, children make exceptionally strong progress in a well-organised and stimulating environment. Attainment in reading, writing and mathematics at key stage 1 and in the Year 1 phonics check has been consistently in line with or above the national average for three years.

The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good. It continues to improve because leaders provide staff with support and challenge them. Pupils enjoy school and overall attendance is improving towards the national average.

However, there is still a small proportion of pupils who struggle to attend school on a regular basis. Pupils do not make as much progress in mathematics during key stage 2 as they do in reading and writing. Leaders have revised the way that mathematics is taught, and progress is starting to improve.

Some pupils would like more opportunities to apply the mathematical ideas they are learning to real-life situations. Pupils enjoy a rich curriculum that introduces them to languages, history and geography, the arts and science, as well as English and mathematics. Leaders of subjects other than English and mathematics have not identified the essential skills and knowledge that pupils need to achieve future success in learning these subjects.

Information about this school

This school is smaller than the average-sized primary school. Reception children are taught in a single year group. Pupils in Years 1 and 2, 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 are taught in paired year-group classes.

The vast majority of pupils are White British. There is high mobility in the school's population, with a significant proportion of pupils arriving either mid-year or mid-phase. Over one third of the pupils currently in key stage 2 started at Barningham after key stage 1.

The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average and rising. The school is in line with other schools nationally for the proportion of pupils with an education, health and care plan. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is broadly in line with the national average.