Bedfield Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a school that requires improvement Leaders, including governors, have not ensured that the outstanding quality of education identified at the last inspection has been maintained. Governors have been slow to respond to the decline in standards.

Leaders and teachers do not make effective use of assessment information to check rigorously that pupils are making strong progress. Until recently, the acting headteacher has had too little time to bring about all of the required improvements that she and governors have identified. Leaders' improvement plans lack focus, and their evaluations of the school's performance are overly optimistic.

The quality of teach...ing, learning and assessment over time has been inconsistent. Learning activities do not consistently take into account what pupils already know and understand to ensure that pupils make good progress. Teachers' expectations of the depth, accuracy and presentation of pupils' writing are inconsistent.

Although the teaching of mathematics is improving, some pupils still have gaps in their knowledge, understanding and skills. Children in the early years do not make enough progress, especially in the specific areas of literacy and mathematics. Leaders do not check carefully the quality of teaching, learning and the curriculum in the early years.

The school has the following strengths The acting headteacher knows the school's strengths and weaknesses well. She understands the actions required to improve the school further and she now has the capacity to bring about these changes. Leaders and governors ensure that pupils enjoy a broad and balanced range of curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Pupils' personal development, behaviour and welfare are good.

Information about this school

The school is a smaller-than-average-sized primary school with small numbers in each year group, including the early years. Pupils are taught in mixed-age classes.

The proportion of pupils with SEND support is above average. The proportions of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium, who speak English as an additional language, or who have an education, health and care plan are below average. The school is designated as having a religious character.

It belongs to the Diocese of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich. Its most recent section 48 inspection for Anglican and Methodist schools was in October 2014.