Birch Copse Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud to be a part of their inclusive and ambitious school community. They embody the school's values consistently by being kind, respectful and polite. They meet the high expectations set for them through trying their best, challenging themselves and persevering.

Pupils share the school's ambitions for what they can achieve. From Reception onwards, pupils grow to become highly motivated, confident and independent learners. Beyond this, they become highly valued members of their community.

Across the school, pupils speak about the importance of showing support and encouragement to each other.

All pupils, including those with special educational nee...ds and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve highly across the curriculum. Published outcomes from the end of key stage tests in 2023 show that pupils attain above national averages.

This is reflected in the high-quality work that pupils complete in school in these subjects and across the wider curriculum. Pupils talk about their learning with interest and make links between the knowledge they gain easily.

Pupils benefit from an exceptionally wide range of character-building opportunities.

This offer is diverse, including 'Glee', drama, gymnastics, gardening, art and various sports clubs. Beyond this, as school and eco-councillors, subject ambassadors, 'Birch Copse Buddies' or mini-masters, pupils learn how to harness their talents and skills to contribute to school life.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has a highly ambitious curriculum which supports all pupils to achieve exceptionally well.

The school has mapped out precisely the knowledge that pupils need to develop. This starts from Reception onwards and is designed so that pupils revisit and build on prior learning systematically and as needed. Subsequently, pupils are able to master and apply knowledge to problems independently.

Teaching is very effective. Subject leaders, teachers and support staff are experts not just in the knowledge they teach, but also in how best to teach it so that all pupils, including those with SEND, achieve extremely well over time. Teachers check what pupils know through the entire curriculum.

Where needed, they make well-considered changes to lesson activities to help pupils build knowledge well. The provision for pupils with SEND is successful due to the precise knowledge of what pupils' needs are and clarity on how best to meet them. Therefore, the support put in place in lessons is seamless and highly impactful.

A love of reading pervades the school. All pupils access a wide range of texts which builds their vocabulary and inspires them to read. Staff expertly teach pupils phonics.

They use information from assessments well to spot when a pupil has fallen behind. Extra reading activities are used to close any gaps quickly. This means that all pupils are learning to read exceptionally well.

In the Reception class, the foundations for learning in Year 1 are set superbly. As one parent commented, 'The early years learning offer is wizardry!' There is a palpable buzz of learning and enthusiasm among children and staff in this area. Children model the school's values consistently well and are motivated learners.

The school is focused on developing children's communication and language. Every opportunity is taken by well-trained staff to develop children's vocabulary to a high standard. Consequently, children are articulate and ready for learning in Year 1.

Conduct through the school is calm and purposeful. In lessons, behaviour is superb. Teachers show consistency and fairness in how they support pupils with their behaviour.

They model the expectations of conduct they have for pupils well. Because of this, pupils are highly focused, and learning is rarely disrupted. The school playground during social times is harmonious.

Pupils play extremely well together and the warmth and trust between pupils and staff is clear to see.

The school's work on pupils' personal development is exemplary. Regular discussion in assemblies about protected characteristics and fundamental British values build pupils' capacity to show skills and attitudes that will enable them to contribute positively to their wider community.

Pupils learn to not only understand but appreciate a range of religions and cultural influences. They show clearly how they recognise and value the commonalities and differences between us all. They celebrate these through personal, social, health and economics education-themed days throughout the school year.

These are truly inclusive pupils who respect the views, feelings and beliefs of others.

Governors work collaboratively with all staff so that all pupils get the best education possible to achieve the best possible personal and academic outcomes. Teachers appreciate the extensive work that has been done to make workload manageable.

All staff show commitment to the school, the pupils and the community they serve. Staff are valued and listened to and are inspired by the vision that school leaders have.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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