St Andrew’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is an outstanding and inclusive school. The executive headteacher and senior staff provide a clear and ambitious vision for the future and all staff are very highly motivated to achieve it. Pupils are extremely keen to learn and are very well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Pupils, parents and carers are very supportive of their school. All groups of pupils make outstanding progress and reach above average attainment in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. The school is very successful in ensuring that pupils of all abilities, including disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs, aim high and achieve very well.

The higher than average pr...oportion of pupils who join the school, particularly part way through Key Stage 2, also achieve well and make excellent progress The quality of teaching overall in the mixed-age classes is outstanding. Teachers and support staff bring learning to life through fast-paced and highly motivating activities which seize the pupils' attention and instill the skills and desire to learn. While the marking of pupils' work in English is of a very high quality and guides pupils to their next steps in learning, this practice is not consistent in mathematics.

Pupils are kind, thoughtful and considerate towards each other. Their behaviour in and around school is exemplary and they have a very good understanding of how to keep themselves free from harm. They say they feel very safe and are extremely well looked after.

Monitoring of performance by leaders is rigorous and incisive. It leads to speedy, decisive and highly effective action to improve teaching and raise pupils' achievement. The rich and well-planned curriculum promotes high levels of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development throughout the school.

Information about the school

The school is a much smaller than the average-sized primary school. The vast majority of pupils are of White-British heritage. The proportion of minority ethnic pupils or those who speak English as an additional language is much smaller than seen nationally.

The number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is significantly below average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who are supported by school action plus, or have a statement of educational needs is above average. The school entered into a 'soft federation' with a neighbouring primary school five years ago.

In September 2010 this was made into a 'hard federation' having a joint governing body. The executive headteacher has been in post for five years. Two deputy headteachers run the two schools on a daily basis in her absence.

A new teacher was appointed in January 2011. Pupils are taught in mixed age classes. Key Stage 1 consists of Reception, Year 1 and 2 and Key Stage 2 is made up of Year 3 and 4 and Year 5 and 6.

More pupils join or leave the school part way through the year than is seen nationally, particularly at Key Stage 2. The school has the Activemark, Healthy Schools status and Dyslexia Friendly Level 1. The school meets the current government floor standards, which set the minimum expectation for pupils' attainment and progress.