Exbourne Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils' progress in all year groups is strong and pupils achieve well. Reading is a strength of the school and, since the previous inspection, pupils' achievement in writing and the presentation of their work have improved significantly. Children in Reception and Year 1 make particularly rapid gains in building confident reading, writing and numeracy skills.

Pupils are taught well across the school and teaching assistants provide effective support for learning. Activities are interesting and engage the pupils' curiosity and interest. Discussion and questioning by teachers help pupils to extend their thinking skills and express their view...s.

In lessons, pupils work together well and contribute enthusiastically. They concentrate well and persevere with tasks. Pupils have positive attitudes to learning and they say they really enjoy lessons.

They have confidence in the adults who look after them and feel safe. Good leadership and management have ensured that weaknesses identified are tackled and improvements made. Regular checks made on the quality of teaching are helping the school to improve.

Governors have strengthened school leadership because they know how well the school is doing, challenge leaders and hold them to account for improving the quality of teaching and pupils' achievement. It is not yet an outstanding school because : There are a few occasions when learning in lessons is not as brisk as it could be. Pupils do not have good enough opportunities to assess their own work and identify targets for improvement, this holds back higher achievement.

Support and monitoring of teaching, including promoting high quality practice from across the federation, have not been sharp enough to promote more outstanding teaching.

Information about this school

Exbourne Primary School is much smaller than the average-sized school. Numbers of pupils in some year groups are very small and there is a higher than usual proportion of pupils who leave or join the school other than at the usual times.

Almost all pupils are of White British heritage. The pupils are taught in three classes in the morning: Reception and Year 1; Years 2 and 3; and Years 4, 5 and 6. In the afternoon there are two separate classes.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported by school action is below average. The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also below average. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for children in the care of the local authority, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and other groups, is very small.

The headteacher started at the school in February 2013. The school is part of the Dartmoor Federation. This is a federation of five schools: Boasley Cross Primary; Bridestowe Primary; Exbourne Church of England Primary; Lydford Primary; and Okehampton College.