Chalfont St Peter CofE Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are incredibly content in this school.

Happiness shines through their exemplary behaviour. They have highly respectful relationships with each other and the adults in the school. There is a warm and welcoming atmosphere built around strong values, shared and understood by everyone.

Pupils are proud to be part of this school.

Leaders have very high expectations for pupils to achieve as well as they can. They have taken deliberate steps to build a culture where all pupils feel they can learn and succeed.

Pupils talk passionately about 'hot chocolate Fridays' with the headteacher. They attend these for excellent behaviour or other recognised achi...evements.

Pupils feel safe in school.

They pointedly said that there is no bullying in school. One pupil spoke for all when they said, 'We might have falling outs, but we resolve this ourselves or with our teachers.'

Pupils can and do take part in a wide range of extra-curricular activities that they really enjoy.

At all times, pupils feel listened to. They like their teachers and other staff who help them learn in the range of subjects they are taught. As a result, most pupils achieve well.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Pupils achieve good outcomes by the end of key stage 2 in mathematics and reading. More are achieving better standards in writing than in recent years. In subjects such as mathematics and music, subject leaders plan and sequence the knowledge that pupils need to know well.

However, in some subjects, curriculum planning is less developed or even confused. It is not always clear how effectively the curriculum is designed to help pupils learn and remember more. Leaders have already started to make the changes needed to improve this.

Teachers use their secure subject knowledge to plan enjoyable and engaging learning activities. Year 4 pupils really enjoyed reading a timely bonfire-night poem to help them recognise metaphors. Teachers check what pupils know and remember often.

They use questioning effectively to ensure that pupils understand. Most pupils know and remember knowledge that they have been taught. For example, pupils have good knowledge of historical facts that they have learned over time.

Pupils enjoy reading. They have many opportunities to read in school and are encouraged to read at home often. Most read well for their age.

Pupils who need extra help with their reading are supported well to catch up. However, leaders' reasons for choosing the books teachers read with pupils are not always well defined. Pupils' own book choices are not reviewed in such a way as to ensure that they read across a wide range of genres.

Leaders have ensured that there are many opportunities for pupils to learn more than their academic subjects. A plentiful range of clubs and activities is on offer after school. Pupils talked enthusiastically about their enjoyable football, table tennis and speech and drama clubs.

Leaders have planned helpful activities to raise pupils' awareness of mental health and well-being issues. Pupils, with leaders' help, are redesigning a playground space as an area for spiritual reflection and personal quiet time.

Pupils' behaviour and attitudes to learning are exceptional.

Pupils are confident ambassadors for their school. They are well prepared for the next steps in their lives and education. They democratically elect house captains.

House captains take their roles very seriously, one suggesting that the role 'is just like being the Prime Minister'.

Pupils with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Personal plans are used well by teachers and other staff to meet the learning and welfare needs of pupils with SEND.

Leaders use the additional money received for disadvantaged pupils appropriately. These pupils achieve good outcomes.

Governors are dedicated and knowledgeable.

They are well placed to support and challenge leaders to further improve the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders have created a culture where the safeguarding of children is of the utmost importance.

Leaders and governors work well together to ensure that safeguarding remains effective. They are well trained and fulfil their legal duties properly. They ensure that the right checks are carried out before employing people to work with children.

Staff know how to report any concerns that they have with a child's safety or welfare. Staff are confident that leaders will address any concerns they raise.

Leaders work well with other agencies to ensure that vulnerable pupils and their families are supported appropriately.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

The school's curriculum is not yet sufficiently planned and sequenced in some subjects. Leaders need to ensure that all subject leaders plan their curriculum effectively to ensure that it allows pupils to learn and remember more. It is clear from the actions taken by leaders that they are already in the process of bringing this about.

Leaders' and teachers' rationale for selecting the books pupils read across the curriculum are not always clear. Pupils' own choices of reading are not always reviewed well enough to support a wider breadth of reading for all pupils. Leaders need to ensure that books chosen are supporting pupils to read more widely both in and outside school.

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