Bishop Aldhelm’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher leads the school extremely well. He is ably supported by a skilful deputy headteacher and a strong team of thoughtful and determined senior leaders and governors. All staff are highly committed to ensuring all pupils do as well as they can.

Following a recent dip in standards that were due in large part to circumstances beyond the control of the school, leaders have worked ceaselessly to improve the quality of teaching and raise pupils' achievement. Throughout the school, all groups of pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, are making good progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Teachers plan lessons carefully to enga...ge, challenge and motivate pupils.

Excellent relationships between staff and pupils underpin teaching and learning. Teachers know their pupils well and set tasks that build on what they already know. Pupils behave extremely well and are keen to learn.

They are unfailingly polite and enthusiastic. Pupils' positive attitudes owe much to the school's harmonious atmosphere, where the school's core values of fairness, respect and tolerance are evident at every turn. The school works very successfully to ensure pupils are kept safe and feel safe.

Parents have every confidence that their children are happy in school and cared for well. Effective teaching in the early years means children get off to a good start. Staff promote their personal and social development very successfully.

Children soon settle in and their positive attitudes make a strong contribution to their learning and progress. Governors know the school very well. They provide good support and challenge to the leadership team.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : There are are some weaknesses in teachers' use of questioning and marking, and in how they set pupils targets for improvement. There are missed opportunities for children in the early years to develop their communication skills, be imaginative, explore materials and find out about the natural world when learning in the outdoor areas.

Information about this school

The school is about twice the size of the average primary school.

The majority of pupils are White British. Around 10% of pupils, half the national average, come from a range of minority ethnic groups. About 7% of pupils have English as an additional language, which is about average.

Very few pupils are at the early stages of learning English. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils, for whom the school receives additional funding through the pupil premium, is below average. The pupil premium provides additional funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and for children who are looked after.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is broadly average. These needs relate mainly to speech, language and communication or moderate learning difficulties. Children in the early years attend full time in one of three Reception classes.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress, at the end of Year 6. The school runs breakfast and after-school clubs in a separate building within the school grounds, known as the 'Lookout Club'. The school does not use any alternative provision.