Perranporth Community Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

Perranporth Community Primary School is a good school that takes great pride in its exceptionally welcoming environment. The way the school nurtures the pupils and supports their families is highly valued by pupils and their parents and carers.

Good care, guidance and support are making a strong contribution to good outcomes for the pupils both academically and personally. One parent summed this up by saying that 'Perranporth School is a great school,' and that 'caring teachers ensure that the children strive to attain their personal best.' Children who join in the Reception Year make substantial progress from attainment levels on entry that are much lower than expected for their age, so that their at...tainment at the end of Reception is broadly average and above average in personal, social and emotional development.

This strong start is having a growing influence over pupils' progress higher up the school. It is achieved through outstanding provision in an improved environment with high quality teaching and activities that are planned carefully to meet the needs of all of the children. The excellent leadership of this key stage ensures that improvements are clearly focused and the expertise of all adults is used to provide a wonderful learning experience for all the children.

Pupils say that they enjoy being at school and are very proud to represent it within the local community. Their contribution to the school, for example through membership of the school parliament or as a 'play pal', is keenly undertaken. They are very proud of their achievements as members of the sports teams, the Cornish dancing group or the choir; the latter has been recognised by the school's Sing Up Award.

In classes, they have a good attitude and are keen to learn. Behaviour is good in lessons and around the school. Pupils exhibit a strong moral code, clearly understanding right from wrong.

They are respectful towards each other and are confident that the school deals effectively with any incidents of unacceptable behaviour. Teaching and learning are good and most pupils achieve well. However, a small proportion of lessons are not always planned and delivered well enough to ensure that all pupils attain as well as they might.

In these lessons, assessment information about the pupils is not used consistently to inform teaching, and expectations of what counts as success for pupils are sometimes not clear. As a result, a very small minority of pupils, particularly the more able, do not always attain the levels of which they are capable. Teachers' assessment of pupils' work is sound.

Targets are used to promote good learning but the extent varies to which these are individually focused which sometimes limits the pupils' ability to monitor their own progress. Teachers use questioning in the classrooms to monitor pupils' progress but the quality of their written feedback sometimes lacks consistency and does not always focus on what pupils should do next. The school has tried to encourage more parents and carers to become involved in supporting their children at school through initiatives such as invitations to class assemblies, improved information sent home and a new website.

However, even though these have improved the situation, many parents and carers do not actively engage with the school. The headteacher has a clear vision and all staff fully understand what is needed for the ongoing improvement and development of the school. Self-evaluation is good and has identified the priorities for development.

The actions already taken have secured improvements. The governing body has a clear understanding of its responsibilities and fulfils its role well. Detailed planning for improvement and thorough monitoring ensure that the school continues to move forward.

Consequently, the school's capacity to sustain further improvement is good.

Information about the school

Perranporth Community Primary School is a smaller than average-sized school. Most of the children are of White British heritage and the proportion of children from minority ethnic backgrounds is below average.

The proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is well above average but the proportion supported by school action plus or in receipt of a statement is well below average. Many of these additional needs are concerned with speech and language development. The proportion of pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals is broadly average.

The proportion of pupils who join or leave the school at points other than normal is higher than the national average. The school has National Healthy Schools Plus status and a Sing Up Platinum Award. The school manages a before- and after-school club and shares its site with a children's centre, with a pre-school, which is managed separately.

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