Dartington Church of England Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The school has improved rapidly since the previous inspection.

Staff share the headteacher's commitment to continuous improvement. Teaching has improved. Teachers have good opportunities to develop their expertise further.

Attainment has risen to reach above-average standards. In particular, there has been an improvement in achievement in mathematics. Pupils are now much better prepared for the move to their next school at the age of 11.

All groups of pupils now make good progress, particularly disadvantaged pupils and pupils who have special educational needs or disability. Children in Nursery and Reception are taught well and a...re well prepared for Year 1. School leaders at all levels now check the quality of teaching and learning rigorously.

Pupils behave well both in lessons and around the school. They enjoy learning, particularly the opportunities provided for outdoor learning in the Forest School. They love the range of clubs and other activities that the school provides.

There is outstanding care and support for pupils, who consequently feel very safe. Several parents told inspectors that this is the greatest strength of the school. Governors are now more active, challenging and knowledgeable in their support for the school.

Most parents praise the commitment and dedication of the staff in providing a good education for their children. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Work set for the most-able pupils is sometimes insufficiently challenging. Pupils' writing is not as well developed across the curriculum as it is in literacy lessons, with a consequent impact on standards in subjects such as history and geography.

Attendance remains below average, despite the school's strenuous attempts to improve it.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized primary school. Most pupils are of White British heritage and very few speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils supported through the pupil premium (additional government funding to support pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children who are looked after by the local authority) is in line with the national average. The school takes in several children from Traveller families. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs or disability is well above average.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations of attainment in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. Children in Nursery attend in the mornings or afternoons. Children in Reception attend full time.

Many more pupils than normal join the school other than at the usual starting points. The school operates a breakfast club. At the time of the inspection, the school occupied temporary premises, as the original school is in the process of being completely rebuilt.

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