Landulph School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Landulph School is a happy and welcoming place which sits at the heart of village life. Pupils thoroughly enjoy school. Staff know them well.

This helps pupils feel safe and well cared for.

Teachers make their expectations of behaviour clear. Classrooms are calm and orderly.

Pupils engage in their learning well and work hard. Bullying is rare. Pupils say adults in the school help them if they are ever worried.

Central to Landulph's ethos are its values of honesty, friendship, loyalty and respect. It promotes these whenever possible. For instance, the annual lunch for grandparents develops pupils' empathy and respect for those from different generatio...ns.

The school places a strong emphasis on pupil leadership. Older pupils are excellent role models. For example, they read stories to their younger peers at lunchtimes during 'Book Club'.

The school council gives pupils a voice at both school and trust level. Through outdoor learning and residential visits, pupils learn the importance of resilience and teamwork.

The school has made many recent improvements.

It now has an ambitious curriculum from early years to Year 6. Pupils learn more than in the past. They are well prepared for their next stage of education.

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

Following the previous inspection, the school redesigned much of its curriculum. It did so while carefully managing staffing changes. The school, while ensuring it supports teachers to teach well, has also taken workload into account.

Staff's pride in being a part of Landulph is equal to that of its pupils. The trust, including the local governing body, has ably supported the school. It has closely checked on the school's progress and given additional help where needed.

As a result, the trust's self-evaluation of the school is accurate.

The school has identified the specific knowledge pupils will learn and in what order. It has given careful consideration as to how teachers will implement the curriculum in the mixed-age classes.

Teachers give pupils tasks well matched to what they can do. This is because they now regularly check what pupils can remember from previous lessons or topics. Pupils now recall more of their learning.

For instance, younger pupils talk confidently about habitats in science. Older pupils explain how electrical circuits work using the correct scientific vocabulary.

However, in a few subjects this work is at an early stage.

Some pupils have gaps in knowledge because of previous weaknesses in the curriculum. For example, pupils in history do not have a secure understanding of concepts such as empire.Furthermore, the school is not yet able to evidence the impact of the changes in some foundation subjects, such as art and design.

The teaching of reading has improved significantly. The school has established an agreed approach to how pupils will learn the phonics code. Staff have been well trained.

Their subject knowledge is much improved. As a result, staff address any errors or misconceptions in pupils' reading. They quickly identify pupils who fall behind and give them additional help to catch up.

Landulph is highly inclusive. It has experienced a rise in the number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Despite these challenges, the school ensures that the curriculum is well adapted for their needs, including those with complex difficulties.

The school holds a careers fair to help pupils consider their future paths. The school ensures diversity is incorporated into its academic curriculum. Pupils understand different types of discrimination.

They have a good knowledge of faiths and cultures different to their own. Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain.

With guidance from the trust, the school has refined its systems for attendance.

It makes frequent checks on levels of absence and swiftly intervenes where there are concerns. This includes putting support in place for families who need it. Consequently, pupils attend well.

Parents and carers praise the school highly. They welcome staff's approachability and feel any concerns they have are addressed.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• A few foundation subjects are in the early stages of implementation. Pupils have gaps in their knowledge as a result of previous weaknesses in the curriculum. The trust needs to further refine curriculum planning to take into account pupils' gaps in knowledge and ensure these are addressed.

• In some subjects, the curriculum is too new to see its impact. As a result, the school is not sure how well pupils are learning in these subjects from early years to Year 6. The trust needs to ensure they monitor how well pupils are learning in these subjects so that they can be sure of its impact and make changes accordingly.