Manadon Vale Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Achievement is good, reflecting the good, and often outstanding, teaching pupils receive. The school has improved rapidly since the previous inspection.

Pupils of all abilities make good progress in English and mathematics, and often some exceptional gains from their individual starting points. This includes disabled pupils, those with special educational needs and pupils who are eligible for additional pupil premium funding. Attainment at the end of Year 6 is above average and prepares pupils well for the next phase in their education.

Pupils' attitudes towards their learning are good. They are keen to work and are highly respectful to ...each other and their teachers. They feel safe and their behaviour is good in lessons and around the school.

All leaders and managers, including governors, are fully committed and ambitious to see the school continue to improve. They share a common vision and have achieved the substantial improvement in the quality of teaching, following the previous inspection. The governing body provides good support, as well as challenging the headteacher and staff to do even better.

Governors are fully involved in the life of the school, checking the work of individual teachers and classes. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils do not have enough opportunity to plan and present their work independently because teachers are often inclined to use too many pre-printed worksheets, especially with less able pupils. Some teachers with leadership responsibilities are not making the most of data collected on pupils' achievement to plan for improving their progress.

Teachers are not consistent enough in giving written feedback to pupils about their work. Comments are not always as clear as they could be, which limits pupils' ability to use them to improve their work independently.

Information about this school

Manadon Vale Primary School is a larger-than-average sized primary school.

Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught in two Reception classes. The school is a two-form entry school so there are two parallel classes in each year group. Almost all pupils are from White British backgrounds.

A very small proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is below average, as is the proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs. The proportion of pupils who are known to be eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and for looked after children, is below average.

The school meets the government's floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. A recent reorganisation of primary education in the area surrounding the school, including the building of a new primary school, has resulted in the catchment area for the school being altered. The school changed to Foundation status and founded the Endeavour Learning Community Trust, with six other schools, in January 2013.