Lympsham Church of England Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils' attainment is high in all subjects at the end of Key Stage 1. The proportions of pupils achieving Level 3 in reading and mathematics is well above the national average. Pupils learn to read quickly and are able to practise their skills in school when they read to staff and volunteers.

Pupils make good progress in Key Stage 2 and are well prepared for their next stage in education. Teachers plan lessons that are engaging and which the pupils enjoy. Most subjects are someone's favourite lesson.

Pupils' behaviour is good both in terms of their social behaviour but also in the way pupils approach their learning. The school i...s very well led by the senior staff. They are supported by an effective middle leadership team and a very knowledgeable governing body.

The school has a real sense of being a caring community. Both pupils and staff have fun working together. The school develops the social, moral, spiritual and cultural awareness of the pupils very well.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Achievement in writing is not as good as that in reading and in mathematics. Pupils do not have sufficient opportunities to develop and practise their skills by writing with a purpose in other subject areas. Pupils are not always given clear enough targets that show them what they have to achieve in lessons.

Teachers' marking does not always let pupils know what they have to do to make their work better and pupils do not have enough opportunities to make the improvements.

Information about this school

Lympsham First School is situated in a small picturesque village between Weston-super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea. It is much smaller than the average infant or primary school.

It draws most of its pupils from the local area, but an increasing number comes from wider afield. There are only a few pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds attending the school. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium (pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, looked after children and those from service families) is well below the national average.

There are no looked after children or children of service personnel attending the school. The proportion of pupils supported at school action is above the national average. The proportion of pupils who are supported through school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is low.