Longtown Community Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils across the school achieve well. All groups of pupils, including children in the Reception class, make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics as a result of good teaching.

Children experience imaginative teaching in the Early Years Foundation Stage and are well prepared for Year 1. Pupils feel safe in school because staff care for them and help them if they have any concerns. Pupils' good behaviour in lessons, around school and in the playground helps to make the school a happy place where all are able to learn successfully.

Pupils speak very positively about their school. They enjoy what the school offers them, which is... why attendance is above average. Parents and carers are equally pleased with the education their children receive and are closely involved in the life of the school.

The executive headteacher is building an effective team which is fully committed to ensuring that the school continues to improve both teaching and pupils' achievement. Governors know what is needed to improve the school and ensure leaders are taking effective steps to bring this about. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teachers' expectations of what pupils can achieve in English and mathematics, including the most-able pupils, are not always high enough.

Teachers do not get sufficient opportunities to observe outstanding teaching to further improve their practice. Pupils do not get enough opportunities to refine the skills they learn in English and mathematics by using them in other subjects. Pupils' spelling and handwriting are not as good as they could be.

Pupils do not know enough about the diversity of life in modern Britain.

Information about this school

This is a smaller than average-sized primary school which serves the village of Longtown and the surrounding rural community. Nearly all pupils are of White British heritage and no pupils are learning English as an additional language.

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

In 2013, the school met the current government floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The school has a daily after-school provision as part of the extended schools project and works closely with an independently managed pre-school on site. The school was federated with another small local primary school in 2012.

This federation was dissolved in April 2014. This led to a significant period of disruption for the school, due to the dismantling of the previous joint staffing structure and the subsequent re-organisation. The school is currently in a partnership with the local secondary school in which teaching staff are shared and there is an Executive Headteacher.