Rotherfield Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The headteacher is ambitious for the school and has secured sustainable improvements over the last two years.

He has ensured that all staff share his commitment to the vision for the school. Pupils make good progress in all key stages, often from very low starting points, and leave the school well prepared for the next stage in their education. Detailed systems to measure the achievement of different groups of pupils are in place.

This information is used by teachers to inform their planning. Teaching is consistently good and ensures that pupils make good progress. Meticulous tracking of support programmes for certain groups of pupils en...sures that this work has a positive impact on their progress and attendance.

Support for families and pupils who are potentially vulnerable or underachieving is managed rigorously and tailored to individual need. Strong governance ensures that all leaders are held to account and challenged. Governors are actively involved in the setting and sharing of the school's future plans.

Pupils behave well, their attendance is improving and they say they feel safe. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teaching over time is not consistently outstanding. Not enough pupils attain higher levels, particularly in writing.

In some classes, marking and feedback to pupils do not have enough impact on their progress.

Information about this school

Rotherfield Primary School is larger than the average-sized primary school. Pupils come primarily from White British, other White, Bangladeshi, Black Caribbean, Black African and mixed backgrounds.

The school has identified a small, but growing, group of pupils of Turkish origin. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is well above average. The proportion who speaks English as an additional language is also much higher than the national average.

Two thirds of the pupils are eligible for the pupil premium (additional government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, pupils from service families and those in local authority care). This proportion is well above the national average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported at school action is slightly above the national average.

A significantly higher proportion is supported at school action plus or has a statement of educational needs. The school meets the government's current floor standard, which sets the minimum expectation for pupils' attainment and progress. The headteacher has been appointed since the last inspection, and there have been a number of staff changes, including a review of the leadership structure.