Great Bookham School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a school that requires improvement The school has begun to improve only very recently, with the appointment of an executive leader and the head of school. Leaders over time have not reacted quickly enough to tackle declining academic standards. Teaching is not yet good.

Although there have been improvements in some classes, there continue to be weaknesses and inconsistencies where teaching does not challenge pupils' learning appropriately. Teachers do not always use information about what pupils already know and understand to plan tasks and activities to meet pupils' differing needs. As a result, pupils are not making as much progress as they should.

P...rogress is improving in some classes, but not enough pupils are making accelerated progress in reading, writing and mathematics. As a result the progress pupils are making is well below that achieved nationally. New leaders, supported by governors, are taking appropriate action to drive rapid improvement.

However, this work is in the early stages. Middle leaders have not been held fully to account for the learning in their area of responsibility or subject. They have not ensured that teaching teams provide consistently good opportunities for pupils to learn.

Teachers do not check consistently on pupils' learning during lessons. As a result, misconceptions in pupils' learning are not corrected swiftly. Teachers' expectations of what pupils can achieve are not consistently high enough.

As a result, pupils do not make the progress they could in some lessons. The school has the following strengths Leaders have swiftly identified what improvements need to be made. They have high expectations of teachers and pupils, together with the drive and ambition to get the very best for pupils.

Pupils' personal development and behaviour is good. They have very good attitudes to learning and are polite and welcoming. Children in early years achieve well in a happy and safe learning environment.

They make a strong start to their time at the school, as a result of good teaching. Safeguarding practice is robust. It is underpinned by strong relationships and a whole-school ethos of nurture and care.

Information about this school

An executive leader and Head of School were appointed in January 2019 and had been in post for seven weeks at the time of the inspection. The school is an average-sized primary school. Classes in key stage 2 are mixed age.

There are two Year 3 and 4 classes and two Year 5 and 6 classes. Children in early years are taught in one Reception class. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds.

The next largest group is from the Traveller community. The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged and those who have SEND is average. There are a small number of pupils who have an education, health and care plan.

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