Ticehurst and Flimwell Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The school is improving.

Since the previous inspection, senior leaders and governors have successfully driven improvements in the quality of teaching. All groups of pupils make good progress. Standards at the end of Year 2 and Year 6 have risen steadily over the last three years and pupils' outcomes are now good.

The quality of teaching, learning and assessment are good. Teachers plan interesting activities which engage pupils. Teaching assistants provide good support.

Children get off to a good start in Reception and are prepared well for Year 1. Safeguarding arrangements are robust. There is a strong sense of care within the sc...hool.

As a result, pupils feel safe. Pupils behave well. They play happily together.

Good relationships mean that pupils feel confident and secure. Leadership and management are good. The headteacher has made sure that pupils have continued to learn well, despite some turbulence in staffing.

Subject leaders, particularly for English and mathematics, are knowledgeable and contribute well to the improvements in their subjects. Governors work closely with the headteacher and provide effective challenge, together with strong support. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not enough teaching is outstanding.

The level of challenge in lessons is not always precise enough to make sure that pupils of different abilities make the rapid progress that would lead to outstanding achievement. Pupils do not always respond to the guidance given by teachers in their feedback. This sometimes slows the progress pupils make.

Information about this school

This is a smaller-than-average sized primary school. There is a Reception class and four mixed-age classes for Years 1 and 2, Years 2 and 3, Years 4 and 5 and Years 5 and 6. The children in the Reception year attend full time.

There have been significant staff changes since the previous inspection, including the appointment of a deputy headteacher who is also responsible for pupils and have special educational needs or disability. There has been a history of considerable turnover of temporary staff but this is now largely resolved. Most pupils are White British.

Few are from minority ethnic backgrounds or speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives the pupil premium, which is additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and looked after children, is slightly lower than the national average. The proportion of pupils and who have special educational needs or disability is similar to that found nationally.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics. The school runs a breakfast club. An independent pre-school and children's centre share the same site as the school.

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