Sampford Peverell Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Following the previous inspection in 2017, leaders' swift response has brought about rapid improvements.

When they leave, pupils are equipped with the skills they need for the next steps in their education. Effective support from leaders in the Ventrus Multi-Academy Trust has strengthened leadership within the school. Leaders know their school well and have high expectations for the pupils.

They have overseen rapid improvements in behaviour across the school. Most current pupils across the school make good progress, in reading, writing and mathematics. In key stage 1, pupils' books show that rapid progress has been made by almost all pupi...ls from the start of this year.

Leaders have been successful in improving the teaching of phonics. Consistently good phonics teaching now means that more pupils, including the disadvantaged, are successful in the Year 1 phonics screening check. Pupils say that they feel safe in school.

They are knowledgeable about how to keep themselves safe. The vast majority of parents and carers say that pupils are looked after well. Children in the early years are nurtured in an educationally rich environment.

They make good progress from their starting points. Pupils access a broad and balanced curriculum. They develop a secure understanding across all subjects, including foundation subjects such as art and science.

Mathematics teaching is effective in developing pupils' arithmetic skills and reasoning abilities. However, teachers in key stage 2 do not provide the most able pupils with sufficient challenge. Consequently, these pupils are not working at the higher standard.

Writing in pupils' English books is neat and well-presented. However, teachers in key stage 2 do not insist on the same high standards of presentation in theme books. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are making variable progress in writing.

Often, these pupils find it difficult to learn because tasks are not closely matched to their needs. Leaders' monitoring is not sufficiently focused on evaluating the impact of teaching, learning and assessment on the progress of pupils with SEND.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school.

It has provision for two-year-olds as part of a mixed Nursery and Reception class. The school is a Church of England school. The majority of the pupils are of White British background.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is below the national average. The proportion of pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals is below the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average.

The proportion of pupils with education, health and care plans is below the national average. The school is part of the Ventrus Multi-Academy Trust. The headteacher joined in September 2017, and a large proportion of teaching staff started in September 2018.