Mevagissey Community Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Pupils of all ages achieve well.

In 2012, over 90% of Year 6 leavers achieved at least the national standard in both English and mathematics. Pupils throughout the school make good progress in these and other subjects, especially in their writing. Disabled pupils, those with special educational needs, and those eligible for the pupil premium, make progress that is equally as good as that of other pupils.

Teaching is consistently good or better. Teachers use assessment data well to plan work that stretches pupils across the wide range of ages and abilities present in each class. Pupils describe enthusiastically lessons they have found par...ticularly interesting.

Marking is a particular strength, and pupils can explain how it helps them to improve their work. Pupils behave very well both in lessons and around the school. They report that bullying is very rare and that they are confident to discuss problems with adults.

They are aware of different forms of bullying and of how they may be avoided, and also of potential dangers such as when using the internet or playing in their coastal environment. Leaders and managers are ambitious for their pupils and know them well. Data are used very well to identify and rectify any emerging weaknesses.

Teachers' performance is managed effectively and subject leadership is very strong. This has led to rapid improvements since the previous inspection. Resources such as the pupil premium are used well for their intended purpose.

Governance is also very effective as governors challenge school leaders to make improvements and support them in doing so. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching is not yet outstanding as some staff lack confidence when using information and communication technology (ICT), and teaching assistants, while of good quality, are not always used effectively by the class teacher. In spite of school leaders' best efforts to improve it, pupils' attendance has been below average in recent years.

Information about this school

This primary school is of much smaller than average size and serves a well-known fishing village and holiday resort in Cornwall and the surrounding area. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported by school action, at just over 7%, is below average, while the proportion supported by school action plus or with statements of special educational needs, also just over 7%, is average. These pupils have a range of physical disabilities or learning or behavioural difficulties.

The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium, at around 20%, is broadly average. The pupil premium provides additional funding for children in local authority care, pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children of families in the armed services. In November 2011, Her Majesty's Inspector visited the school to check on the effectiveness of mathematics teaching and reported that this was satisfactory at that time.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The school shares its site with a privately-run pre-school which was not inspected on this occasion. The latest report can be viewed on the Ofsted website.