North Tawton Community Primary School and Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The headteacher and the leadership team provide determined and effective leadership. This has led to significant improvements since the last inspection, particularly in teaching and pupils' achievement.

Pupils make good progress because teaching is typically good and some is outstanding. Teachers plan challenging work to interest and engage the pupils so they enjoy learning and achieve well. The school plans a wide range of subjects and learning experiences to challenge most pupils.

This makes a positive contribution to pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The school is welcoming and pupils enjoy the work they do. T...his is reflected in their good behaviour and attitudes towards each other and their learning.

Pupils feel safe, are happy and are proud of their school. Their attendance has risen significantly and is now above average. Children make good progress from their starting points in the Reception class.

They benefit from the highly effective partnership arrangements with the Pre-School in the Foundation Stage Unit that continues to be a strength of the school. This ensures the children have a very good start in their education. Disadvantaged pupils and those who are disabled or have special educational needs achieve as well as, and sometimes better than, other pupils.

Governors have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and areas for improvement. They have successfully challenged leaders and teachers to improve. They have supported the school very well through a period of rapid change.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : The quality of teaching is not yet outstanding. In a few lessons, pupils do not make as much progress as they could. Occasionally, pupils, especially the most able, are not moved on to harder work quickly enough in lessons.

This limits their progress slightly. Teachers do not always make sure that pupils make improvements to their work following teacher feedback and marking.

Information about this school

North Tawton is a smaller than average-sized primary school.

Almost all pupils are from White British backgrounds and speak English as their first language. Children in the Reception Year are taught in the Partnership Foundation Stage Unit that also accommodates the local Pre-School. Pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2 are taught in four mixed year classes: Years 1 and 2; Years 2 and 3; Years 3 and 4; and Years 5 and 6.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is above average. The proportion of those who are supported by school action plus or who have a statement of special educational needs is average. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is average.

This additional funding supports disadvantaged pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals or are looked after by the local authority. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. About half of the teachers are new to the school since the last inspection.

The school is a member of the Dartmoor Cooperative Learning Trust. This is a group of local schools who meet to share expertise and training. The Pre-School is not managed by the governing body and therefore was not inspected as part of this inspection.