Barrow Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

This is an outstanding school. The key factor in the school's success is the continuous drive to move the school forward by senior staff and members of the governing body who set very high expectations. This, in turn, is shared by staff who are united in ensuring that all children get off to an excellent start in their learning and do as well as they can throughout the school within an exciting and inclusive learning environment.

Pupils achieve exceptionally well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, because of excellent teaching and a very well-planned curriculum. Each year pupils enter the school with varying skills and abilities that are generally in line with those e...xpected for their age. By the end of Year 4, attainment is well above national expectations.

Until recently, girls reached higher levels of attainment than boys in reading and writing. A range of strategies have been implemented, including the frequent and effective use of texts that interest boys, and has successfully redressed this difference so that the gap has significantly narrowed. Boys are now attaining only marginally below girls in literacy skills.

Reading and writing are a particular strength because teachers are very good at teaching basic literacy skills and encouraging pupils to read and talk at every opportunity. However, pupils do not always have sufficient opportunities to write at length. The quality of pupils' mathematics has improved significantly and attainment is as high as in other subjects.

This is because teachers provide numerous opportunities to solve problems and explore a range of strategies to investigate number. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent. They think deeply about people in the world suffering hardship and reflect on important issues with great maturity.

For example, when asked to consider what should be included in an assembly prayer pupils responded with thoughtful suggestions of 'friends, family and our world'. They have a very strong sense of right and wrong and develop their social skills particularly well. They play an outstanding role in helping others in school and the local community.

For example, they sang in the local shop and for senior citizens at a nearby residence. Pupils say they feel very safe and like coming to school because everyone is caring and friendly, and are confident that adults will help them if they have any concerns. This was echoed by a parent who said, 'my daughter always enjoys coming to school'.

Teaching is outstanding and pupils are highly motivated and engaged. Assessment and routines are extremely thorough and ensure pupils know exactly what is expected of them. Lessons are often practical.

Challenging activities are very well planned and pupils have excellent opportunities to discuss and share their ideas with each other, deepening their understanding across all subjects. The headteacher leads the school very well with high expectations of all members of the school community. Her commitment to developing pupils' personal as well as their academic skills is a key reason for the school's success and popularity with parents and carers.

The school has a very accurate picture of the areas it needs to develop next because the quality of its self-evaluation is very good. The monitoring system is frequent, clearly timetabled and designed so that leaders at all levels thoroughly investigate any dip in progress by an individual or group of pupils. This, coupled with leaders and managers that are continually developed to perform at the highest level, ensures that the school has an outstanding capacity for further improvement.

Information about the school

The school is smaller than most primary schools. The numbers in each cohort vary significantly from year-to-year and are sometimes low. Almost all pupils are White British and no pupils speak English as an additional language.

There are lower than average proportions of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and pupils with a statement of special educational needs. The number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is below average. The school has achieved national Healthy School status and the Eco-Schools award.

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