Goathland Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Children get a very good start to their schooling as they settle quickly into this caring, close-knit school. They make good and sometimes better progress across the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Pupils continue to achieve well and make good and sometimes better progress. The school knows its pupils exceptionally well and by the time they leave in Year 6 they reach standards that range from average to above average according to their individual starting points. Teaching is consistently good and sometimes outstanding.

Teachers meet pupils' needs successfully through well-tailored activities and stimulating experiences that inspire pupils ...to learn. Teachers have high expectations of what pupils can achieve and use questioning well to promote pupils' progress. Pupils with specific needs are very well catered for in the school.

All staff meet their needs very well and, as a result, they make good and sometimes better progress. Pupils' behaviour and their understanding of how to keep safe is outstanding. Behaviour at playtimes and lunchtimes is exemplary.

Pupils say there is no bullying and everyone gets on well together. They work together harmoniously and attendance is above average. The school's curriculum provides activities that give pupils a real thirst for learning.

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is a particular strength of the school and underpins pupils' daily work. The headteacher provides inspirational leadership. She is exceptionally well supported by all staff who strive to ensure pupils achieve well.

Teaching continues to improve and this is having a positive impact on pupils' achievement. Governors have high aspirations for the school. They know the school well and challenge and support the school in its drive to improve teaching and achievement further.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not enough teaching is outstanding so that pupils can make outstanding progress. Marking does not always enable pupils to improve their progress or reach a higher standard in their work. Pupils do not always know how to be successful in lessons so they can check on their own learning and make faster progress.

Information about this school

The school is much smaller in size than an average-sized primary school. Pupils are taught in two mixed-age classes. They sometimes have different teachers for different subjects.

Year groups are very small. Most have fewer than three pupils. Sometimes there are no pupils in a particular year group.

A below-average proportion of pupils are known to be eligible for the pupil premium. This is additional funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children from service families and those children who are looked after. An above-average proportion of pupils are supported at school action.

An above-average proportion of pupils are supported at school action plus or have a statement of special educational needs. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The school sometimes experiences significant mobility of pupils leaving and entering at different times during the school year.

The school has achieved Healthy Schools status and the Science Silver Awards. The government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics, do not apply to this school. When results are reported at the end of Year 6 the number of eligible pupils has been consistently below 11.