Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Pupils achieve well in reading, writing and mathematics.

Levels pupils reach at the end of Key Stage 2 are above average and have consistently been higher than at the time of the previous inspection. Almost all pupils reach the level expected for their age. In 2012, the school featured in a government list of 100 top performing schools, based on sustained improvement using this measure.

Good teaching enables pupils of all abilities and backgrounds to achieve well. Teachers make sure that lessons meet pupils' varying needs by setting different tasks for different groups. Teaching assistants play an important role in helping pupils who may ...be falling behind to catch up.

In reading, outstanding rates of progress mean that the majority of pupils reach above average levels by the time they leave. The teaching of letters and the sounds they make (phonics) is strong and younger pupils use these skills very well to tackle unfamiliar words. Pupils are extremely polite and courteous and behave well.

They are very positive about their experiences of school and their attendance is above average. Pupils say they feel very safe in school, and the overwhelming majority of parents agree. Leaders have secured significant improvements since the previous inspection.

From middle leaders through to the governing body, there is an increased sense of rigour and purpose in the shared determination to continue improving the school. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Across the school, pupils do not do as well in writing and mathematics as they do in reading, so fewer pupils reach above average levels. Pupils also make less rapid progress in Years 3 and 4.

Pupils do not always get the chance to use teachers' marking to improve their work. More able pupils achieve well, but are not always challenged to do as well as they can, sometimes, because the pace in lessons is not quick enough. When observing lessons, leaders do not always check carefully enough how well different pupils are learning.

Information about this school

The school is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. All children except for Year 6 pupils are taught in mixed-age classes. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported at the school action level is broadly average.

The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is much lower than average. The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives the pupil premium (additional government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, children who are looked after by the local authority and children of service families) is much lower than the national average. There are no children looked after by the local authority.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set minimum expectations of pupils' attainment and progress. The governing body is responsible for the school's breakfast club provision. It does not manage the on-site preschool provision, which was not part of this inspection.

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