Greenhead Church of England Nursery and Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Greenhead Church of England Primary School continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

Greenhead is a small school with big ambition. Leaders have high aspirations for the education they want pupils to experience.

Pupils develop a strong understanding of their local area but are also encouraged to learn about the world beyond. School life is strongly underpinned by Christian values. Pupils not only recite their school promise together, but they live it out every day.

Pupils' experiences are deeply rooted in their rural community. They choose to spend their social time in the woodland area, where they play, care for the chickens and build dens. Out...door learning is an important part of the curriculum.

However, pupils also gain a strong understanding of the world beyond their community. They talk clearly about equality and discrimination. Pupils understand that their opinions are important and valued.

They are proud of the changes they have made to school life. Pupils have created a healthy 'packed lunch policy' and presented it to governors. This policy has been adopted across the school.

Pupils understand what bullying is and feel confident that it would be taken very seriously by teachers. They explain that bullying is not a problem here because people are kind to each other. New pupils who join the school are welcomed into this caring community.

Pupils feel happy and safe here.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Pupils experience a broad and ambitious curriculum. Leaders have thought about exactly what pupils will learn.

This is carefully considered so that pupils taught in mixed-age classes can build successfully on prior learning. Leaders have ensured that the curriculum takes advantage of the rich local heritage. In history, pupils enjoy trips to nearby Hadrian's Wall and talk articulately about Roman artefacts.

Teachers check to identify any gaps in pupils' learning. Some staff are still developing their expertise in how to plan and deliver the new curriculum most effectively. Sometimes, teachers' use of questioning and resources is not sufficiently precise.

This can slow down pupils' progression through some aspects of the curriculum.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported to access the same curriculum as their peers. Staff understand the needs of these pupils well.

Staff ensure that pupils with SEND experience success while also developing independence.

Leaders ensure that the curriculum is underpinned by a strong focus on reading. Story time happens daily for all pupils.

Each year, pupils read a range of work of one author and one poet. Leaders have chosen the texts carefully to make sure that pupils experience a breadth and depth of literature. Older pupils also enjoy acting as reading buddies to younger pupils.

All pupils share a story with their partner regularly.

Leaders have recently introduced a new phonics scheme. This is now in place across key stage 1.

Pupils use their phonics knowledge to read books that are well matched to their ability. Leaders have thought carefully about how to ensure that all pupils are on track. Pupils who find reading more difficult receive regular support to help them keep up.

Pupils' behaviour around school and in classrooms is exemplary. They are engaged in lessons and keen to learn. Pupils of all ages cooperate and play happily together.

Each week, pupils who have demonstrated values in accordance with the school promise are rewarded in celebration assemblies. Pupils enjoy celebrating each other's successes. Older pupils take their roles and responsibilities seriously.

The attention that leaders place on the wider development of pupils is a strength of this school. Pupils recently enjoyed a visit from their local member of parliament. They have experienced trips to the theatre and attended a local book festival.

Teachers develop pupils' understanding of current affairs by engaging them with news and current affairs. They are well prepared to be active and responsible citizens of the future.

Staff at this school are excited about the range of changes that are being made by new leadership.

Leaders have forged strong relationships across the federation. This means that staff expertise can be shared more widely. Staff value and appreciate these changes.

They feel that their workload and well-being are considered. Many of these curriculum changes are in their infancy, and their impact is only beginning to be evident. The delivery of phonics is being closely monitored.

However, other subjects are in the early stages of delivery. Staff are very proud to be members of this close-knit school community.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe through their curriculum lessons and from visiting speakers. Pupils understand the importance of reporting any concerns they might have. They trust staff to keep them safe.

Staff are clear about what risks pupils might face. All staff are trained to be vigilant and report any concerns about pupils' welfare swiftly. Leaders take timely action when any concerns regarding pupils' safety are raised.

In this small school, staff know pupils very well. Leaders work with external agencies to ensure that families who might need additional support receive it.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Some staff are still developing their expertise in how to deliver the curriculum as effectively as possible.

Sometimes, resources and questioning are not used as well as they could to ensure that pupils are making swift progress through the curriculum. Leaders should prioritise ongoing training and development of staff, ensuring that the curriculum is delivered as effectively as possible. ? Leaders have introduced many changes across the curriculum.

Many of these changes are in their infancy, and it is too early to be able to judge their impact precisely. Moving forwards, leaders should ensure that there are systems in place to check the impact of the curriculum changes so that they can be refined and improved as necessary.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good.

This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually, this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in June 2017.