Thriplow CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The headteacher and governors have managed difficulties caused by staff absence well. They have successfully eradicated inadequate teaching and reversed the decline in standards and rates of progress which occurred in 2012, particularly in mathematics.

Because of the action taken by leaders, teaching is now good and some is outstanding. Leaders, including governors ensure that the quality of teaching is continuing to improve. Pupils make outstanding progress in their Reception Year and good progress in all other year groups in all subjects, including mathematics.

The teaching of mathematics has improved because the school has adopted new... ways of teaching mental mathematics and of teaching a variety of ways to carry out calculations. The family atmosphere of the school is highly valued by pupils, who say they know each other and the adults in school well and feel very safe. Pupils' behaviour in and around the school and their attitudes to learning are outstanding.

Pupils show a mature understanding of each others' needs. They are highly reflective and caring because the school places a strong emphasis on the promotion of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural education. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teachers' marking and their use of targets do not sufficiently inform pupils how to improve their work and take the next steps in their learning.

Although pupils are encouraged to share their ideas, they do not have the opportunity to review each other's work, and so reflect on and improve their own work as well as that of their peers. Monitoring by the headteacher and other leaders, although regular, is not sufficiently systematic to bring about outstanding teaching. Teachers do not have the opportunity to observe the best practice which is taking place in the school.

Information about this school

The school is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives pupil premium funding (additional funding for pupils eligible for free school meals, children looked after by the local authority and from service families) is well below average.

The proportions of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs who are supported through school action, as well as those supported at school action plus or through a statement of special educational needs, are average. The numbers of pupils in each year group are very small. This can lead to wide variations in results.

There were not enough pupils included in the national progress data in 2012 to judge whether the school met the government's current floor targets, which set the minimum expectations for attainment and progress. The school has four classes, all of which are for pupils of mixed ages. The school has had a new headteacher since the last inspection, who has been in post for two and a half years.

In the last 18 months there has been a high proportion of staff absence. A higher proportion of pupils than in schools nationally leave or join the school at times other than the start of their Reception Year, particularly at the end of Year 2. The governing body manages an on-site after-school club.

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