Hampsthwaite Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

Achievement is outstanding. Pupils make excellent progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Pupils also develop strengths in other subjects such as history, art, music and aspects of sport.

Outstanding spiritual, social, moral and cultural development contribute to pupils' excellent behaviour and exemplary levels of safety. Throughout the school, there is calmness coupled with a buzz of excitement from pupils thoroughly enjoying learning. The success of the school is a joint effort involving staff, pupils, governors and parents.

It is a crucial part of the village community, giving everyone associated with it a great... sense of pride. An outstanding teaching team provides the best possible education for pupils. Everyone works together to refine their skills and adjust lessons so that pupils can take the most out of each activity.

An excellent curriculum sets pupils' learning alight. Pupils are encouraged to follow their own interests, although their ability to develop and explore their own learning in more creative ways is not fully achieved. An excellent partnership with families contributes significantly to the academic and personal development of pupils.

Excellent communication keeps parents informed about everything in school and their child's progress. Underpinning the great success of the school is the stability within it. An established approach to behaviour management, consistently high expectations for pupils, a strong desire amongst staff to improve, all maintain its strengths while moving the school forward.

Excellent leadership by the headteacher builds on the school's many strengths to move it forward. Staff are highly valued and good quality training maintains the highest quality of teaching. Very strong governance, which understands the school and its community, very successfully contributes to the school's success.

Information about this school

This is smaller than the average-sized primary school. The vast majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported through school action is below average.

The proportion supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is average. The proportion of pupils supported through the pupil premium funding is well below average. The pupil premium is additional funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children from service families and children who are looked after by the local authority.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 6. While staffing has been very stable since the previous inspection, a new headteacher took up post in January 2013 and a new teacher was appointed in Key Stage 1 in September 2013. The small staff team shares management responsibilities.

The school has gained the Healthy School's status, achieved the Eco-Bronze status and gained the local authority award for its work in promoting Fairtrade. It also has the local authority Inclusion Mark for its good work in this field of education. The high quality outcomes in art are recognised in the school holding the Arts Mark Gold.