St Bega’s CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

This is a good school. It is an exceptionally happy place that is at the heart of the local community and pupils enjoy school immensely. Behaviour is outstanding in lessons and around the school and pupils feel extremely safe.

Pupils thoroughly enjoy learning, parents and carers are very appreciative of the school's work and staff morale is high. Excellent links with the community, effective teaching and a good curriculum give pupils a really good start to life. These experiences raise pupils' skills as well as enhancing their awareness of the richness of their local environment and broadening their horizons and understanding of the wider world.

Pupils make good progress in their learning. Th...ey enter the Early Years Foundation Stage with skills broadly in line with those expected for their age and make good progress. Although cohort sizes vary considerably, pupils reach standards that are above average by the time they leave the school.

Writing is not as high as other subjects and pupils do not always have enough opportunities to write at length and apply their skills across the curriculum. While teaching is good overall it is variable, being especially effective in Key Stage 2 where progress accelerates. Most lessons include a variety of activities that sustain pupils' interest.

Assessment is satisfactory but especially in Key Stage 1 work is not always closely-matched to pupils' ability and they are not always clear how to improve. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities make good progress in their learning and development as a result of the school's strong commitment to inclusion and because staff make sure that the needs of these pupils are met. Pupils liken their school to being part of a large family, a view which is firmly endorsed by parents and carers.

Every pupil is known and valued as an individual and all are committed to ensuring they are fully included in everything on offer. Since the last inspection the school has maintained its effectiveness. School self-evaluation and improvement planning is of high quality.

Senior leaders and governors monitor the school's work carefully and know its strengths and weaknesses well. Priorities for improvement are clearly understood and the school has a good capacity to improve further.

Information about the school

This is a very small rural school.

Pupils are taught in two mixed-age classes, one of which includes children in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The vast majority of pupils is of White British origin. The proportion identified as having special educational needs and/or disabilities is below average.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is very low. The number of pupils in different year groups fluctuates significantly depending upon the birth rate in the locality. There are twice as many boys as girls.

The school has gained the Artsmark award, Investors in People Gold and has Healthy School status. A private nursery shares the school premises for part of each week. At the time of the inspection the acting headteacher has been in post for almost two terms.