Callington Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

Callington school provides a good education. It is improving in many ways and developments are having a positive impact on pupils' progress.

Staff are well led by the headteacher and share a strong sense of purpose, and a determination to provide stimulating experiences and strong support for all pupils. The school works well to identify pupils who need extra help and acts decisively to support their learning and personal development. By the time pupils leave, their attainment is broadly average in English and mathematics.

Given their starting points, the achievement of all groups of pupils is good. Teaching has improved since the previous inspection and much of it is good or better. Most les...sons are lively and enjoyable experiences where adults and pupils collaborate happily in learning.

However, some inconsistencies remain. Occasional lessons, for example in science and topic work, do not offer the correct degree of challenge for all pupils. Teachers mark pupils' work thoroughly and offer advice, but their comments are not often linked enough to pupils' targets.

The curriculum provides a wealth of interesting experiences and the excellent provision for community cohesion promotes pupils' excellent engagement with the local community and broadens their horizons. Pupils' personal development is good. The school is calm and harmonious, relationships are positive and behaviour good.

Children's attainment on entry to the Early Years Foundation Stage varies but their skills and abilities overall are below that expected. Children make a good start to school in the Early Years Foundation Stage, notably developing the strong social skills that are such a feature of the school. Outside areas provide a less stimulating environment than in the classrooms; outdoor resources are limited so not all elements of learning can be easily pursued in the open air.

Thorough, systematic self-evaluation provides senior staff and the governing body with an accurate picture of the school, enabling leaders to prioritise effectively and develop well-grounded plans for the future. Concerted actions to improve behaviour and teaching have been very effective, leading to better progress and strong personal development for all groups of pupils. The school runs smoothly.

Its capacity for sustained improvement is good.

Information about the school

Callington Primary School is larger than average. Most pupils are of White British heritage and almost all speak English as their first language, although the numbers of Polish-speaking pupils has increased recently.

The proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is below average; the largest group of these pupils have speech, language and communication needs. The school includes a Nursery. A number of new staff have joined the school in recent years.