Kirkby Fleetham Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The acting headteachers and new headteacher have worked very hard to improve pupils' achievement, the quality of teaching and pupils' behaviour since the last inspection. Pupils' achievement is now good.

Children enter the Reception class with skills and knowledge that are broadly typical for their age and by the time they leave Year 6, they attain above the national average in reading, writing and mathematics. Pupils across the school are making good progress. The quality of teaching is good with some that is outstanding.

Pupils are given challenging work to do which promotes their thinking skills well. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary in... lessons and around the school. They feel extremely safe and know their views and opinions are valued.

Subject leaders are closely involved in checking and evaluating the work and progress of pupils in the areas for which they are responsible and this has helped to ensure increasing rates of progress. Members of the governing body now challenge the school fully and hold leaders to account for the school's performance. Governors have secured the strategic direction and leadership of the school and are developing partnerships with other schools.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : While the quality of teaching and assessment are good overall, some pupils in Key Stage 1 are less sure of how to improve their work than older pupils. Systems for assessment in the Early Years Foundation Stage, although improving, are not fully embedded. While pupils make good progress in their reading, a very few find it difficult to tackle unfamiliar words and texts are not always challenging enough, particularly for some of the more-able pupils.

Information about this school

This is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium (which provides additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, those in local authority care and children from service families) is below that found nationally. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is above the national average.

The proportion supported through school action plus or who have a statement of special educational needs is below average. All pupils are from White British backgrounds. There is no alternative or off-site provision.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' progress and attainment in English and mathematics. The breakfast and after-school clubs are not managed by the governing body and therefore did not form part of this inspection. There is currently an acting headteacher who will leave the school at the end of December 2013.

Another acting headteacher from Kell Bank Primary School also supported the school until the end of August 2013 and the partnership forged with this school continues. A new permanent headteacher was appointed in July 2013. She has been working part-time at the school since September 2013, alongside the acting headteacher, and will increase the number of days she works in the school in January 2014.