Taverham VC CE Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Leadership at all levels is strong.

Particularly strong is the leadership of the headteacher and deputy headteacher who provide a crystal clear direction for the school, to which everyone in the school community is committed. Teaching is consistently good and, increasingly, some is outstanding. Pupils have very positive attitudes to learning and achieve well from their individual starting points.

As a result, attainment in reading, writing and mathematics is above the national average. Pupils thoroughly enjoy the subjects and activities provided for them. The very well-planned curriculum ensures that pupils experience a wide range of sub...jects, including a strong emphasis on music, which is a strength of the school.

Pupils who struggle with their learning for a range of reasons are very well supported, this is enhanced by a skilled team of additional adults employed by the school. Knowledgeable, articulate and active governors are extremely effective partners in leading, challenging and supporting school improvement. All aspects of pupils' safety are given the highest priority so that they can learn and develop in a happy and stress-free environment.

Pupils and their parents agree that the school is a safe place to be. Pupils' behaviour is very good and much is exemplary. Pupils learn well how to be polite, they listen to their teachers and to each other.

They are very accepting of each others' differences. Pupils demonstrate great pride in their school, for example, when representing the school in sporting activities or singing in the cathedral. Attendance is above average.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Whole school targets are not yet sufficiently ambitious to ensure that pupils make outstanding progress from their individual starting points. The most-able pupils' responses to questions lack precision because teachers are not challenging them well enough to think more deeply and widely about their answers. All teachers are not yet routinely ensuring that the most able pupils are being challenged at a high level from the start of lessons, especially in English and mathematics.

Information about this school

Taverham VC CE Junior School is almost twice the size of similar schools nationally. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported at school action, at one tenth, is broadly similar to the national average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs, less than one tenth, is below the national average.

The proportion of pupils who are supported by the pupil premium funding (additional funding given to schools for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals or in the care of the local authority) less than one fifth, is significantly below the national average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The headteacher has been providing support to two other local schools as a Local Leader of Education/ Systems Leader and Professional Partner, one of which has now been removed from a category.