Cranbrook Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The highly ambitious and effective headteacher has successfully embedded a very strong team spirit united in a determination to ensure that all pupils achieve as well as they can. Leaders and governors have secured ongoing improvement since the previous inspection. As a result, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment are now good.

The school values of perseverance, ambition, respect and kindness are evident throughout the school. Pupils feel safe and are happy in school. They behave well because staff have a consistent approach to managing behaviour.

School leaders have done much to improve the attendance of pupils, which has imp...roved markedly. However, the attendance rate for some pupils, especially those who are disadvantaged, remains too low and some do not arrive punctually for school. Governors know the school well and provide good support and challenge to school leaders.

They ensure that safeguarding is given a high priority in the school. Teaching is effective. Teachers plan interesting and stimulating lessons which motivate pupils.

As a result, pupils learn well and make good progress across a range of subjects, including reading, writing and mathematics. In 2016, too few disadvantaged pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of Year 6. However, the inspection found that the progress of disadvantaged pupils currently in school is improving.

Following a period of underachievement, pupils currently at the school are making good progress and are catching up. However, too few pupils, especially in Year 3, are on track to attain age-related expectations at the end of key stage 2. The newly established, exciting curriculum inspires pupils to learn well.

However, teachers do not always adapt the curriculum to provide sufficient challenge for the most able pupils. Judged to be outstanding in the previous inspection, the early years continues to be of the highest quality. Teaching in the early years is more closely matched to the needs of children than is the case elsewhere in the school.

As a result, children in the early years make rapid progress.

Information about this school

Cranbrook Primary is smaller than the average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for pupil premium funding is much higher than average.

The majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is similar to the national average. Children in the early years are taught in one full-time Reception class.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Year 6. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. There has been a huge turnover of staff since the previous inspection.

The headteacher became the acting headteacher in May 2016 and the substantive headteacher in September 2016. The deputy headteacher and inclusion manager were appointed in January 2017. Only one teacher currently in school was in post at the time of the previous inspection.