Codicote Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

The majority of teaching is outstanding and never less than good. Lessons are imaginative and interesting and teachers are skilled at matching work to pupils' abilities. Pupils thrive in the Nursery and Reception classes and get off to a good start in their learning.

Pupils typically reach well above-average standards in reading, writing and mathematics by the time they leave at the end of Year 6. Standards in mathematics are exceptionally high. Teachers mark pupils' work regularly and often provide helpful feedback but pupils are not always given enough opportunities to act on the advice their teacher gives them.

Pupils... enjoy coming to school. They behave extremely well. Their positive attitudes and high levels of engagement in their learning are significant factors in the excellent progress they make in lessons.

Pupils feel safe at the school and demonstrate a very strong understanding of how to keep themselves and others from harm. The excellent systems used by the school to support individual pupils, whatever their needs, mean that pupils of all ages make rapid gains in their learning and achieve very well. The school provides a broad and interesting curriculum which promotes pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development very well.

Their learning is enriched by the many opportunities to learn outside, take part in trips and meet visitors. The school provides an impressive range of lunchtime and after-school activities for pupils including a wide range of sports clubs, the choir and the eco team. The headteacher is an inspirational leader who has created an extremely strong team of staff who work very well together.

This has directly contributed to the high quality teaching and excellent progress that the pupils make. Governors are very well informed about the work of the school and hold leaders to account very effectively.

Information about this school

The school is an average-sized primary school.

The school serves the local community of Codicote but in some years, there are considerable numbers of pupils attending who live outside the catchment area. The very large majority of pupils are White British. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium (extra government funding to support particular groups of pupils, such as those known to be eligible for free school meals or in local authority care) is well below average.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported at school action is well below average. The proportion supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

The school is a member of the Hitchin Schools Partnership and meets regularly with its partner schools. The headteacher is an accredited 'Learning Partner' and supports other headteachers who are new to the role. The school has received the Eco Schools Green Flag Award.