Chacewater Community Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

This is a good school.

The excellent work of the new headteacher has galvanised all staff into moving forward with rapid improvements. Together, in a relatively short period of time, they have significantly improved the quality of education and raised standards achieved by the pupils. Pupils commented that, 'Our behaviour and work have got lots better because we enjoy school more than we used to.'

There is a dynamic atmosphere around the school and many new initiatives have been successfully launched to improve and refresh areas of the school's provision. For example, strong efforts have been made to bring staff, governors and parents and carers together in meetings to launch the school's ne...w mission statement, 'Learning and Caring Together'. There are strong and positive relationships between all of those involved with the school.

Pupils' achievement by the end of Year 6 is good. Children get off to a really good start in the Early Years Foundation Stage due to the excellent quality of provision. Pupils' progress across the school is good.

Pupils' attainment in English by the end of Year 6 is securely above average and slightly above average in mathematics as indicated by recent assessments and test results. Continual improvements have resulted in attainment that is now much better than it was at the time of the school's last inspection. However, despite the improvements made, the promotion of calculation skills remains a relatively weaker aspect of mathematics work across the school.

Teaching is good across the school and excellent in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Teachers plan their lessons precisely to cater for all groups of pupils. Pupils feel confident and secure at school.

All aspects of the provision to ensure their ongoing safety is outstanding and staff look after the pupils very well. Pupils' behaviour is good. They relate very well with one another and with the staff and say 'Our school is a very friendly place!' Pastoral provision is good so that all individuals would have no qualms about talking to staff if something was upsetting or worrying them.

The school accurately evaluates its own performance and staff and governors are very clear about what is currently working well and where improvement is needed. The governors do an outstanding job. They have worked extremely well to steer the school through difficult times of reorganisation in its leadership and management.

They are proactive and innovative in seeking ways to fully support the staff and future improvement of the school. The headteacher and the assistant headteacher provide strong leadership for the staff. However, the roles of middle leaders are not yet sufficiently well developed, especially in relation to strategic overview of performance within their curriculum area.

Nevertheless, there is an enthusiastic and determined attitude among all staff to keep driving the school forward. The current momentum of successful improvement combined with high energy and full commitment of the staff and governors mean the school has good capacity to keep improving.

Information about the school

This is a small school.

It serves the local village and surrounding area. Its pupils come from a variety of backgrounds. The proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is similar to that found in other schools nationally.

The pupils concerned have a range of different needs with some of them having particular social and emotional difficulties. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is below the national average. Nearly all of the pupils are White British, with a very small number coming from other ethnic backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils who join the school other than in the Early Years Foundation Stage is higher than that found in most other schools. Pupils in the school are currently taught in four mixed-aged classes. The school was previously managed by one executive headteacher who also managed another nearby school.

The school governors moved to change this with a full-time headteacher appointed for this school in September 2010. At the same time, an assistant headteacher was appointed. The school has the national accreditation as a 'Healthy School'.