Plymtree Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The executive headteacher leads the school well.

Supported ably by the two heads of school, she has ensured that the whole staff are successfully improving pupils' education. Pupils' achievement is good, especially in Key Stages 1 and 2 where all groups of pupils make at least good progress in English and mathematics. Pupils' attainment is above average by the end of Year 6.

Teaching in Key Stages 1 and 2 is good, and often outstanding, leading to many pupils making better than expected progress. Disadvantaged pupils, disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs achieve as well as other pupils. Pupils are keen to attend s...chool and they have positive attitudes towards their learning.

Their behaviour is good. They feel safe, are proud of their school and respect one another. Teachers plan interesting work which engages pupils.

Pupils' work is well presented. The governing body is effective in checking how well the school is performing. Governors have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses and rigorously hold teachers to account.

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted well. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Some children do not make enough progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage as lessons are not always planned effectively. Occasionally, pupils are not moved on to harder work swiftly enough in lessons, inhibiting their progress.

Teachers do not always make sure that pupils understand how to improve their work in response to their feedback. Some parents feel that the school's website is not sufficiently informative and are unclear about how well their children are progressing.

Information about this school

Plymtree is much smaller than the average-sized primary school.

Almost all pupils are from White British backgrounds. There are three classes. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught in the Reception Year with pupils from Year 1 in Ash class, pupils in Years 2, 3 and 4 are taught together in Oak class and pupils in Years 5 and 6 are taught together in Pine class.

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

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. The school runs a breakfast club for its pupils.

The school is part of the Culm Valley Federation, a federation of three primary schools in the villages of Kentisbeare, Plymtree and Culmstock. The federation is led by an executive headteacher and a federation governing body. The senior leadership at Plymtree consists of two, joint heads of school.