St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. This is a school that has improved since the previous inspection and now provides an outstanding education for its pupils. The headteacher provides outstanding leadership and is very ably supported by a talented assistant headteacher and skilled leadership team.

They have high expectations for staff and pupils and motivate staff to give their best for the benefit of the pupils. This leads to high-quality teaching and outstanding achievement. Pupils achieve exceptionally well academically and personally.

They develop as well-rounded individuals who enjoy learning and are happy, confident and excited by all their experiences at sch...ool. This is reflected in their above-average attendance. All groups of pupils make outstanding progress from their different starting points.

By the time they leave the school, attainment in reading, writing and mathematics is well above national levels. All pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs, achieve exceptionally well. Teaching is outstanding.

Expectations are high and teachers provide pupils with exciting and motivating activities. As a result, pupils develop a love of learning and want to do well. Pupils are exceptionally well prepared to move on to the next stage of their education.

Children get an outstanding start to school in the early years because of excellent teaching, care and leadership. Leaders have correctly identified the need to develop the very spacious outdoor area further. The areas studied are rich and stimulating and offer pupils a wealth of opportunities to use and extend their literacy and numeracy skills as well as many exciting experiences in music, art, sports and computing.

They are enriched very effectively with additional activities, trips and clubs, all of which provide pupils with memorable learning experiences. Pupils uphold the school's values exceptionally well and this makes an outstanding contribution to their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding and their attitudes to learning are exemplary, which makes a very important contribution to their excellent achievement.

The school's work to keep pupils safe and secure is outstanding. Pupils say they feel very safe in school and that they are very well looked after. Governors are exceptionally well informed and very effectively challenge all aspects of the school's work as well as providing support.

They have made sure they have the skills and information to do this very effectively.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school. Most pupils are of White British heritage.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is below average. The proportion of pupils who are supported by the pupil premium is below average. The pupil premium is additional government funding for disadvantaged pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and for children who are looked after.

In 2014, there were too few disadvantaged pupils in Year 6 to comment separately on their achievement. The school meets the current government floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. Provision is made for the early years in a Reception class, which the children attend full time.

There is a daily breakfast and after-school club managed by a private provider and, therefore, not included in this inspection. There is a nursery on the school site, which is managed by a private provider and, therefore, also not included in this inspection. The school is part of the 'Deal Learning Alliance', an informal cluster of schools that share good practice and check one another's work, as well as combining to make the most of training for staff.

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