Shankhill CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

The headteacher provides clear, enthusiastic and determined leadership. She is very well supported by the governing body and a staff team who all have the highest expectation of the pupils. Teaching is checked regularly in a variety of ways and along with the monitoring that governors carry out frequently to check how well the school is doing, there is a clear and effective focus on improving achievement and teaching.

Pupils benefit from participation in a wide range of sporting activities that promotes their well-being and their enjoyment of school. There is a good balance of after-school clubs and visits to ensure that pupils' needs ar...e well met. Pupils are polite and well mannered.

Their good behaviour and attitudes to learning contribute successfully to the strong sense of community in the school. Attendance is above average which reflects pupils' enjoyment of school. Pupils are respectful of adults and of each other, and say they feel very safe in school.

They are confident that all adults and their friends will help to take care of them. Excellent relationships between adults and pupils create a positive climate where pupils want to learn and do well. Teaching is good.

Activities capture pupils' interests and inspire confidence and enjoyment with very good use being made of modern technology. Pupils from early years to Year 6 are keen to learn and make good progress from their starting points. This includes pupils from different groups and those who have special needs.

In the early years, children benefit from a wide range of exciting activities which helps them to learn well. The classroom is well organised and early years staff create a positive, caring environment where children play happily in pairs, small groups or on their own. As a result, children are well behaved.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : There are not enough opportunities for pupils to write at length or in different styles in different subjects. Marking is not yet consistent across the school in helping pupils know how to improve their work. Teachers do not always challenge pupils enough through questioning.

Not enough teaching is yet outstanding in its impact on achievement because teachers do not get sufficient opportunities to see outstanding practice and thereby improve their own practice further.

Information about this school

Shankhill CE Primary School is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. Almost all pupils are of White British heritage.

A few pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is above the national average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils, those supported by the pupil premium is below the national average.

The pupil premium is additional government funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those children who are looked after by the local authority. The government's current floor standards do not apply in this very small school. There has been a high proportion of pupils joining the school since January 2014.

The headteacher joined the school in January 2014. The school offers a daily Nursery class each morning with full-time education provided for Reception-aged children. Pupils are taught in three classes in the morning: Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 together; Years 3 and 4 together; and Years 5 and Year 6 together.

In the afternoon, there are two classes as Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 join together to form one class. The number in each year group can be less than three. The school achieved the Artsmark award in 2013.