Shurdington Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have brought about swift improvements and tackled the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection. Teaching is now typically good across the school. Leaders are determined to reverse the legacy of weaker teaching and low attainment in key stage 2.

Almost all pupils now make strong progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Middle leaders support teachers well to develop their practice. As a result, most pupils' progress is strong.

Governors provide strong support and challenge to school leaders. They know the school's strengths and weaknesses well. However, improvement plans do not help them to check the progress with thei...r aims for improving pupils' outcomes well enough.

Leaders use additional funding for disadvantaged pupils well. Most pupils make good progress. Nevertheless, too few disadvantaged pupils currently reach the standards expected of them in mathematics.

Leaders have made sure that pupils enjoy a broad and balanced curriculum and that they typically develop their knowledge well across a range of subjects. Pupils develop their writing skills well across a range of subjects. Leaders have reviewed their approach to the teaching of reading.

Teaching is having a positive impact on pupils' understanding of what they read. Occasionally, however, some pupils do not secure their understanding of new vocabulary or think deeply enough about what they read. The teaching of writing has improved considerably since the previous inspection so that more pupils now reach the expected standards.

However, the most able pupils are not always challenged well enough to write at a higher standard in key stage 2. Leaders promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development well. All of the school's work is underpinned by Christian values which promote equality and prepare pupils well for life in modern Britain.

Pupils have good attitudes to learning and their behaviour is good. Their attendance is improving. Pupils get off to a strong start in the early years.

Children typically make good progress because of the engaging curriculum and effective teaching by highly skilled staff. The teaching of phonics is successful in preparing younger pupils to be fluent readers.

Information about this school

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

There have been changes to the teaching and leadership team, and new leaders for English and mathematics have taken up their roles since the previous inspection. Most pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils – those who are supported by pupil premium funding – is above the national average.

The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average. The school is a voluntary controlled Church of England primary school in the Diocese of Gloucester. At its last section 48 inspection in June 2017, it was judged as good.