Knaphill School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Actions taken to ensure that the school has effective leadership during a period of change have proved highly successful. Leadership at all levels is exceptionally strong. As a result, the school has improved significantly since the last inspection.

Leaders are highly ambitious for pupils and work extremely well together to improve outcomes. Leaders know what they need to do in order to improve the school still further. All groups of pupils make good progress.

Leaders make frequent and thorough checks on how well pupils are learning and extra help is quickly given when needed. The leadership of the provision for pupils with special educat...ional needs or disability is a strength. The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good and continues to improve.

Teachers set work that appropriately supports and challenges all groups of pupils. Pupils' personal development and welfare is outstanding. This is a very caring school where pupils' well-being is of the highest priority.

Behaviour is good. Pupils show respect to each other and adults. The school keeps pupils safe.

Pupils have an excellent understanding about how to keep safe. Parents are highly supportive of the school. They appreciate the improvements that have been made since the previous inspection.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils make expected progress across a range of subjects, rather than accelerated progress. Pupils do not write at length often enough to fully develop their writing skills. The presentation of pupils' work, including their handwriting, is not as good as it could be.

Pupils do not consistently respond to teachers' feedback to correct their work, address misconceptions and close gaps in their understanding.

Information about this school

This school is larger than the average junior school. In March 2015, it federated with the local lower school to become part of the Federation of Knaphill Schools.

The previous headteacher left the school in July 2014. A national leader of education from St John the Baptist School in Woking was the interim executive headteacher from September 2014 until March 2016. In September 2015, the deputy headteacher was promoted to acting head of school and in March 2016 was made head of school.

A new headteacher for the federation was appointed in March 2016. She works across the federation for two days each week. Most of the teaching staff have been appointed since the previous inspection.

The governing body has been restructured to become the governing body of the federation. Most pupils are of White British heritage. Few are from minority ethnic backgrounds or speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives the pupil premium, which is additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and looked after children, is much lower than the national average. The proportion of pupils with special educational needs or disability is below that found nationally. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics.