Marshchapel Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders and governors have successfully established a culture of high expectations for pupils and staff since this new school was established in September 2018. Leadership and management, including governance, are good and there is good capacity to ensure continued improvement.

Effective teaching and use of assessment are resulting in pupils making good progress from their varied starting points throughout the school. The teaching of reading, including phonics, is consistently effective. Pupils' well-developed phonics skills help them confidently read and spell unfamiliar words.

Many pupils read regularly, both in school and at home. On o...ccasions, the most able pupils are not fully extended, especially in their writing. In mathematics, pupils' problem-solving and reasoning skills are not as well developed as their number work and basic calculation.

Relationships throughout the school are strong. The great majority of parents regard the school highly and value the great care that all staff take for pupils' welfare, safety and personal development. Pupils enjoy school and lessons and attend regularly.

Pupils' behaviour is good, both around school and in lessons. Pupils concentrate well in lessons, respond sensibly to instructions and are keen learners. Safeguarding is effective, and all staff are fully committed to keeping pupils safe.

Leadership and provision in the early years are good. Children make good progress and are well prepared for the demands of Year 1. However, children's progress in writing is not quite as strong as in their reading and their personal development.

Information about this school

Marshchapel Infants School is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. There are two classes in the school, which are comprised of the foundation stage class for early years children from the age of two, and a class for both Year 1 and Year 2 pupils. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is in line with the national average.

The proportion of pupils with SEND is broadly in line with the national average. There is a well-below-average proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language. The school opened as a new school in September 2018.

It is part of a formal federation, the Fenland Federation, with Grainthorpe Junior School. The Little Sheep Marsh Nursery is also part of the school. The executive headteacher is headteacher of both these schools.