Staplegrove Church School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

Staplegrove is a good, improving school where pupils achieve well. It has some excellent features, most notably a caring, inclusive ethos that values the unique contribution of each pupil and which strongly promotes their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The school is not yet outstanding because : pupils' mathematical and independent learning skills are not yet fully extended in all classes.

Pupils achieve well. Children make good progress in Reception, and often do exceptionally well in developing their reading, social and independent learning skills. Similarly, some pupils with very complex needs also make significant gains because of the close support they receive from very capable... staff.

Pupils' good progress continues through the school and results in above average levels of attainment by the end of Year 6. Although pupils' numeracy skills have been improved since the previous inspection they are not fully enhanced across the range of subjects. Even so, pupils' reading and collaborative learning skills are often significantly better than those normally expected.

Typically, teaching is good, with outstanding elements, including the teachers' probing questioning and encouraging response to pupils' ideas, which sustain very positive attitudes to learning. Pupils' reading skills are taught systematically and very effectively as pupils move through the school. However, the pupils' independent learning skills, including their ability to use targets and assess the quality of their work, are developed less consistently.

Behaviour and safety are outstanding. Pupils' relationships and eagerness to learn collaboratively with, and from, each other are exemplary features. As a result, pupils love coming to school and attend well.

Leaders and managers, including the governing body, are highly ambitious for the school. Efficient monitoring of provision and outcomes, accurate self-evaluation, targeted professional development and carefully-considered staff appointments, further secure the capacity to improve.

Information about the school

This school is slightly smaller than the average primary school.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is below average. Most pupils attending the school are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is below average.

Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught in a discrete Reception class. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set out the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. Since September 2011 the school has worked in cooperation with another school.

Each school retains its own governing body and the headteacher shares her duties between the two schools. A privately-funded pre-school childcare facility operates on the school site and shares some of the school's facilities. As it is managed independently, it was not part of this inspection.

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