St Leonard’s (CofE) Primary School (VC)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils make outstanding progress from starting points below those typically found.

By the time they leave at the end of Year 6, their attainment in reading, writing and mathematics is well above national averages. All groups of pupils make equally good progress. For example, differences between the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and that of others are minimal.

The quality of teaching is consistently high. Work is planned well to challenge the most able, and the quality of help given when pupils' progress slows is excellent. Pupils' behaviour is of a very high standard.

They work hard in lessons and play safely at oth...er times. They report that bullying is very rare and say that they are confident to discuss their concerns with adults. Pupils are kept safe through rigorous and effective procedures.

For example, staff have a very good understanding of pupils' individual medical needs. Leaders and managers have brought about excellent improvement since the previous inspection. A long-term plan to improve the quality of teaching has been especially successful.

Leaders at all levels are highly effective. The morale of staff is very high. Rightly, they believe that all the actions taken by senior leaders are to enable pupils to succeed.

The curriculum is a major strength. Pupils are prepared very well for life in modern Britain. They understand, at their own level, the nature of democracy and the dangers of extremism.

The governing body has a very good understanding of the school's many strengths and few weaknesses. Governors use their personal expertise particularly well to challenge senior staff and to support the school. The early years provision is exceptionally well led.

Children make excellent progress in Reception and are very well prepared to start Year 1. Some information on the school website is hard to find. A small minority of parents report that expectations of pupils' homework are not always clear.

Information about this school

The school is much larger than the average-sized primary school. Following agreements with the local authority and other stakeholders, the number of pupils admitted in each school year has increased from 60 to 90. This happened in September 2013, so there are now 90 pupils in the Reception Year and in Year 1.

New school buildings are being erected on an adjacent site and will open during the 2015/16 school year. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is broadly average. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for additional funding through the pupil premium is well below average.

This provides funding for children in local authority care and pupils known to be eligible for free school meals. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of Year 6. The governors provide an after-school club that offers childcare.

This is one of the largest such provisions in the area and is attended regularly by over 100 children. The early years provision within the school's Reception classes is full time. The last section 48 inspection of the school's religious character took place in October 2014.