Thorverton Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The close partnership between the executive headteachers and the head of teaching and learning lies at the heart of the strong leadership, which underpins the good quality of education provided at the school.

Leaders at all levels have taken decisive action since the previous inspection to improve the quality of teaching and pupils' learning, and especially to raise pupils' writing skills. Governors challenge and support leaders effectively. They know the school well, and check that actions taken are bringing improvements in the quality of teaching and pupils' achievement.

The behaviour of pupils is outstanding. Pupils are polite and rel...ate warmly towards each other and adults. The pupils' very positive attitudes to learning enrich their good achievement.

The school's work to keep pupils safe and secure is good and pupils know how to keep safe. Pupils enjoy coming to school and learn successfully in a wide range of subjects, including excellent provision for sport. This is indicated by their high rates of attendance.

Teaching is good. An increasing amount of teaching is outstanding, especially in developing pupils' speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Staff collaborate very effectively with colleagues in the school and across the federation and are committed to continual improvement.

Children make a good start in the early years and continue to make good, and sometimes outstanding, progress as they move through the school. Pupils achieve well overall. Many pupils achieve extremely well in English, to attain well above average standards by the end of Year 6.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : There is not enough outstanding teaching and learning in mathematics, especially in fully developing pupils' basic numeracy and calculation skills more quickly. New systems for recording checks on children's progress in the early years are not yet used to best effect by all staff to develop children's particular skills.

Information about this school

This school is smaller than the average-sized primary school.

The majority of pupils attending the school are of White British heritage. One in 15 of the pupils in the school is disabled or has special educational needs, which is below the national average. This proportion varies significantly from year to year across the school.

One in 10 of the pupils in the school is supported by the pupil premium. This is additional government funding provided to give extra support to pupils known to be eligible for free school meals or who are looked after. Given the size of the school, this proportion of disadvantaged pupils is considerably below average.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set out the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Children in the early years attend on a full-time basis and are accommodated in a mixed Reception and Year 1 class. Other pupils in the school are taught within mixed-age classes.

Since April 2012, the school has been a member of the Exe-Valley Federation, which includes two other primary schools. A single governing body serves all the schools in the federation. The school and federation are jointly led by two executive headteachers who share their duties across the schools in the federation.

Each school is managed on a day-to-day basis by a head of teaching and learning. A pre-school is located at the school. As it is managed independently, it is subject to a separate inspection.

Also at this postcode