Sharlston Community School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

From their starting points, all groups of pupils make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Standards are above average by the time pupils leave at the end of Year 6. Children settle well into the early years and make a good start to their school life.

The teaching of phonics (the sounds that letters make) is particularly good in the Reception class and children make rapid progress. The school is well led and managed and there has been a strong focus on continuous improvement, raising standards and the quality of teaching throughout the school since the previous inspection. This good practice is now shared with other schools... in the locality.

The governing body knows the school well and is knowledgeable and experienced. Governors offer a good balance of challenge and support. Teaching is good overall.

Pupils find learning interesting and benefit from challenging questions which deepen pupils' knowledge and enable staff to assess their understanding. Pupils behave well, have a good attitude to learning and feel safe and well cared for. They know how to keep themselves safe, including when using the internet.

The whole school environment is very well maintained and there are vibrant displays of high quality work throughout the school. Everyone takes a pride in their surroundings. The curriculum engages pupils well.

It inspires them to learn and teaches them how to keep safe and also ensures that their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good. It is not yet an outstanding school because : In mathematics, the checking of pupils' progress is not consistently effective and does not always lead to the necessary further challenge. Marking does not always tell pupils precisely enough how they can improve their work.

Pupils do not consistently respond to teachers' marking so that they can learn from their errors. In the Nursery class, some activities are not sufficiently purposeful to support the best possible progress, particularly in early number and reading development.

Information about this school

Sharlston Community School is an average-sized primary school.

It has one class per year group from Nursery to Year 6. The Nursery admits children part time in the term after their third birthday. Reception children attend full time.

Almost all pupils are White British. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs is above average. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for support through additional funding known as the pupil premium is average.

The pupil premium is additional funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and children who are looked after by the local authority. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. There has been significant staff turbulence since the previous inspection and the headteacher has recently had to take long-term absence.

The deputy headteacher has stepped up to the role of acting headteacher. The early years coordinator was appointed in June 2013.The assistant headteacher and Key Stage 1 co-ordinator were appointed in September 2013.