Blean Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The school is led ambitiously and inventively by the headteacher and deputy headteacher working closely with other leaders.

Pupils achieve very highly in English and mathematics across the school. They make excellent progress. Their writing is of a particularly high standard.

They read confidently and accurately. Pupils with special educational needs or disability achieve very well. The school manages the provision for them excellently.

Pupils make a good start in the Reception classes. They are taught well. However, the teaching and provision are not yet outstanding and the school is aware of this.

Teaching is o...utstanding from Years 1 to 6. Staff assess pupils accurately. They have high expectations of the pupils, who learn very rapidly.

This is a creative and imaginative school. It has a very rich, broad and exciting curriculum. Pupils learn well in all subjects.

Pupils are looked after and safeguarded very well. They feel highly safe and secure in the school. Pupils are friendly, considerate and polite.

They want to learn. Their behaviour is good rather than outstanding because sometimes pupils become fidgety and chat in lessons or run in the corridors. Pupils have many superb opportunities to take responsibility and help each other.

Their interests and particular talents are often developed excellently. In common with their children, parents really like the school. They think it is a brilliant place for their children to be.

One said, 'We know how lucky we are'. Not all parents, however, feel that their views or reasonable concerns are heard by the school. A very few have found it necessary to pursue lengthy formal complaints, which have intensified rather than being resolved by the school sooner.

The parents have concluded that these have not been understood or fairly dealt with. The governing body does an excellent job. It both supports and challenges the school to continue improving.

Information about this school

This is a large primary school with two forms of entry. It is located in a village on the edge of Canterbury. Many members of the governing body work in higher education.

Most pupils in the school are of White British heritage. Many other ethnic groups are represented in the school, each in fairly small numbers. A smaller proportion than average of pupils is considered to be disadvantaged and entitled to the support of pupil premium funding.

An average proportion of pupils have special educational needs or disability. A significant number of pupils speak English as an additional language. The school readily meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' progress and attainment.

The school offers breakfast and after-school provision, providing care from 7.30am to 6pm. Blean is an active member of a local cluster of primary schools, EduCant.