Mereworth Community Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The headteacher is an excellent leader and inspires staff and pupils to do their best. The governing body has increased its role in supporting the school and holding it to account.

As a result the school has made good improvements in all areas arising from the last inspection. Pupils achieve well and make good progress overall. Some make outstanding progress.

Attainment is above average in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of Year 2 and Year 6. The promotion of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. In most classes, teaching is good and sometimes outstanding.

Teachers make sure that p...upils know what they are learning and the steps they need to take, and so pupils learn quickly and well. Provision in Reception is good and so children get off to a good start. From starting points that are broadly typical for their age, they make good progress.

Pupils have exemplary attitudes and this has a positive impact on their progress. The school is a safe and happy community and pupils enjoy learning. This is reflected in their above average attendance.

It is not yet an outstanding school because: The proportion of outstanding teaching is not high enough to ensure that all pupils make rapid and sustained progress. Occasionally, pupils are not given enough guidance on how to meet their targets and marking in Key Stage 2 is not always of consistently high quality. A small minority of pupils do not make consistently good or better progress especially in writing.

Not all pupils in Years 1 and 2 are given enough opportunities to practise their writing skills.

Information about this school

This is a smaller than average-sized primary school. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is well below average. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for children in the care of the local authority, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those from service families, is below average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported through school action or school action plus, or with a statement of special educational needs, is average.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The school does not use alternative provision. The school runs a breakfast club.

Since the last inspection, the leadership team has changed with a new headteacher appointed in June 2010. There have also been changes to the membership of the governing body. The school works in partnership with two local primary schools.