St Michael’s CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have overseen significant improvements in outcomes for pupils over the last three years by successfully tackling previous weak teaching. Outcomes for pupils in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of key stage 2 have improved strongly from well below average in 2013 to well above average in 2015. Leaders have improved provision and outcomes for children in early years which were previously low.

Children's learning gets off to a good start. The large majority of pupils in all year groups are making good progress as a result of consistently good teaching. Well-planned activities enable most pupils to succeed from their different start...ing points.

Most-able pupils do particularly well. Pupils' behaviour is of a high standard. The very rare reported incidents are dealt with well.

Pupils reported overwhelmingly that they feel safe and happy in school. All parents and carers who expressed a view confirmed this. The friendly ethos of the school ensures that pupils are well cared for and looked after.

Pupils have very positive attitudes towards their learning and towards each other. They show respect for others with different views, lifestyles and beliefs. There is very wide range of extra-curricular activities available to the pupils before, during and after school.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Governors have not checked rigorously enough on the current progress of pupils and groups of pupils. They do not know sufficiently whether funding for the very small number of disadvantaged pupils and pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is used effectively. Leaders do not ensure that teachers are consistent enough in checking that the additional challenges they have set for the very small number of pupils who need to catch up have been completed and are accurate.

Information about this school

St Michael's is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is about one in 10, which is well below the national average. The proportion with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is below the national average.

The very large majority of pupils are White British. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is well below the national average. Very few pupils speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils supported by pupil premium funding (additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and for children looked after by the local authority) is well below the national average. The proportion of pupils who join or leave the school mid-way through a key stage is above the national average. The headteacher was in post at the time of the last inspection.

The chair of the governing body was appointed in 2014. There has been a high turnover of teaching staff since the last inspection. Based on its 2015 results, the school meets the government's floor standards.

These are the minimum standards expected for pupils' learning and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. There is a pre-school provision on site overseen by the governing body.