Cardinham School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Leadership and management are good. As a result of the expertise of the executive headteacher and a reorganised governing body, leaders have rapidly strengthened teaching and pupils' achievement over the past 18 months. New and existing staff and governors have collaborated well with colleagues in the partner school to move the school forward after a difficult period of change.

They sustain a determined ambition for continued improvement. Pupils feel safe. All staff diligently implement securely updated safeguarding procedures.

The school provides a stimulating range of learning experiences that strongly promote pupils' literacy... and numeracy skills across other subjects. Through interesting visits, sports and expressive arts activities, pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is enriched well. Pupils' behaviour is good.

They are proud of their school and have a strong sense of community. These qualities are seen in the way pupils share excellent relationships and give of their best. Pupils' attendance is above the national average, and this reflects their enjoyment of school life.

Teaching is typically good. At times, it is outstanding and has a highly beneficial impact in lifting pupils' self-confidence and interest in learning. The standards reached by pupils in assessments at the end of Years 2 and 6 this year in reading, writing and mathematics are above average.

They clearly reflect pupils' strengthened progress and achievement. Provision for children in the early years is good. Children experience a confident and happy start to school.

They make good progress and are well prepared for future learning when the enter Year 1. It is not yet an outstanding school because : At times, teachers do not emphasise and develop pupils' spelling and punctuation skills consistently enough. The school is not yet fully using teachers' best practice and leadership skills to secure more high quality teaching.

Information about this school

The school is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. The majority of pupils attending the school are of White British heritage. The proportion of disabled pupils or those who have special educational needs is below average.

It fluctuates considerably from year to year and at times is above average in some year groups. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium (additional government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children who are looked after) is below average. Currently, there are very few pupils in Year 6 in receipt of free schools meals and this was also the case in 2014.

A slightly above average proportion of pupils join or leave the school other than at the normal times. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Children start the school's early years provision on a full-time basis in a Reception and Years 1 and 2 class.

Other pupils in the school are taught in two mixed-age classes. In September 2013, the school entered a close partnership with Lanivet Community Primary School. Both schools are led by the same executive headteacher who divides his time equally between the schools.

The day-to-day management of each school is undertaken by its own assistant headteacher. Each school retains its own governing body. Since the previous inspection there have been significant changes to the staffing of the school, including at a senior level, and in the membership of the governing body.

The school provides its own breakfast and after-school clubs. A pre-school shares some of the school facilities. It is managed privately and so was not part of this inspection.