St Michael’s CofE Aided Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school, strongly supported by parents and carers. One accurately described the school's strengths as, 'Looking after the individual child and making them feel part of a friendly community.' The impressive development of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural qualities ensures that they respect one another's values and are polite and helpful to visitors.

Pupils attain above-average results in the national tests at the end of Year 2 and make good progress. The strong focus on developing their reading skills ensures that the pupils do particularly well in reading, and enjoy a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books. They do not always have enough opportunities to develop their wr...iting skills fully, for example by writing accounts or stories.

Teaching is consistently good. Effective use of questioning, based on a thorough understanding of the capabilities of each pupil, is a particular strength. In a few cases, however, teachers do too much for the pupils, and the pace of learning slows.

Pupils are keen to learn, and their behaviour is excellent in lessons and around the school. Pupils feel completely safe in school and know how to keep themselves safe. Their attendance is considerably above average and they are very punctual.

The headteacher, ably assisted by all the staff and the capable governing body, maintains robust procedures which meet national requirements to keep pupils safe. Their plans to improve the school demonstrate their accurate understanding of its strengths and areas for development, and are focused on the right priorities. The school has successfully met the recommendations of the previous inspection, indicating its good capacity to improve.

Leaders and managers ensure that pupils have a broad and balanced curriculum, and that they enjoy a rich programme of trips and visits.

Information about the school

This school consists of three classes for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, and is smaller than the average infant school. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is much lower than usual.

Almost nine out of ten pupils come from White British backgrounds, and currently very few of those who come from minority ethnic backgrounds speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs is lower than usual, and there are currently no pupils with disabilities. Children enter the Reception class from a wide range of nurseries, including the nearby St Michael's Community Nursery, which is independently managed and is subject to separate inspection.