Longney Church of England Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Across the school, most pupils make good progress and achieve well in relation to their starting points. Pupils of all ages do particularly well in reading and read widely and often. Most teaching is good and some is outstanding.

Activities and the support from adults in lessons are usually pitched at the right level and engage and challenge pupils well. They also help pupils to be independent learners who show initiative and take responsibility. Many good opportunities contribute to all aspects of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

As a result, pupils form good relationships and are caring and considerat...e towards others. Pupils behave well and feel safe at school. They take responsibility for their behaviour and, for example, readily resolve any minor disagreements.

They are pleased with, and proud of, the school. Many successful changes have taken place, and are continuing to take place, to improve the quality of education and care for pupils. The headteacher has high aspirations for the school and is doing the right things to develop its effectiveness.

Governors know the school's strengths and areas for development well. They give good support to the headteacher and also readily challenge and question when necessary. It is not yet an outstanding school because: Teaching is not of a high enough quality to ensure that all pupils make rapid and sustained progress.

In particular, opportunities are missed on occasions to challenge the most able pupils fully, especially in writing and mathematics. Not all teachers and parents and carers are involved sufficiently as partners in helping the school to improve. Although the school has already taken some important steps to improve communication with parents and carers, further action is required.

Information about this school

Longney Church of England Primary School is smaller than the average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils supported at school action is broadly average. The proportion supported at school action plus or through a statement of special educational needs is below average.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is low. This is additional government funding for children looked after by the local authority, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children who have a parent or carer in the armed forces. Currently, there are no children who are looked after or who have a parent or carer in the armed forces attending the school.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. There have been many changes in staffing and membership of the governing body since the last inspection. The headteacher took over responsibility for the school in September 2011.

The Chair of the Governing Body took on this role in March 2013. A breakfast club and an after-school club have opened within the last year. The governing body manages this childcare provision.