Bathford Church School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. This successful school lives up to its mission to ensure that all pupils 'Grow, care, serve, share'.

This means that all pupils flourish and grow as individuals who are highly valued and extremely well supported. All staff and governors share the headteacher's uncompromising drive for excellence and very high expectations. As a result, all aspects of the school's work have greatly improved since the previous inspection.

Leaders know the school very well and have an accurate view of the strengths and areas for further improvement. Pupils' achievement is outstanding. All pupils, including the most able, those who are supported by t...he pupil premium, the disabled and those who have special educational needs, make rapid progress in reading, writing and mathematics.

Standards at the end of Year 6 and Year 2 are above average. Teaching has improved and is now never less than good; much is outstanding. Teachers plan work to challenge pupils of all abilities and have high expectations of what pupils can achieve.

Teachers use information about pupils' progress very well to identify those in danger of falling behind and give extra support when it is needed. Teachers mark pupils' work thoroughly and give pupils clear advice on how to improve it. Pupils also regularly evaluate their own and each other's work against challenging 'steps to success'.

Pupils enjoy coming to school and want to do well. They are very enthusiastic learners. However, they do not always take sufficient pride in their handwriting and the presentation of their work.

Pupils' behaviour is outstanding because teachers have very high expectations of how they should conduct themselves in and around the school. The school's work to keep pupils safe and secure is also outstanding. As a result, pupils feel extremely safe and very well looked after by staff.

The school promotes pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development very well through the broad and balanced range of subjects taught. Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils relish taking on extra responsibilities in school.

Their attendance is now above average. Children get off to an excellent start in the early years and make rapid progress. This is because : they experience a wide range of exciting and enjoyable learning activities.

Governors are highly committed and contribute well to the school's work. They share the passion for excellence with adults and pupils in school. They support and challenge leaders in equal measure.

Information about this school

Bathford Church of England VC Primary is smaller than the average-sized primary school. The majority of pupils are from White British backgrounds. An average proportion of pupils are disabled or have special educational needs.

The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority, is well below the national average. Children in the Reception class attend full time. The school meets the current government floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Year 6.

The school has received support from the headteacher of St John's Primary school, a local leader of education (LLE). The school has a strong partnership with seven local primary schools. On-site pre-school and before- and after-school provision are privately managed and did not form part of this inspection.

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