Waddingham Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school. Provision and outcomes for pupils have improved significantly, particularly during the last two school years.

This is not an outstanding school because a legacy of underachievement in mathematics that has affected some pupils in previous years, though diminishing, has not yet been completely eradicated. Pupils of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, including those who are disabled or have special educational needs and those who are known to be eligible for free school meals, achieve well. Standards are above average because almost all pupils make, and many exceed, the expected amount of progress from their starting points.

Pupils' progress in mathematics is improving ra...pidly but, over time, is somewhat less than that in other key subjects. The appointment of a completely new teaching team 18 months age has done much to improve pupils' learning. Teaching is regularly good and, at times outstanding This is especially so in upper Key Stage 2 where progress is accelerating rapidly.

Nevertheless, inconsistencies in teaching continue to affect pupils' progress in some lessons. Pupils' good behaviour and their strong relationships with others give rise to a safe and harmonious atmosphere that pervades the school. By the time that they leave the school, almost all pupils strive to succeed and readily rise to the challenge of tasks that make demands on them.

This positive approach to learning improves the progress that they make. Recent appointments have strengthened leadership and management. The effective management of teaching in all phases, including the Early Years Foundation Stage, is responsible for improvements that are now clearly evident throughout school.

On-going, robust management of the performance of all staff is successfully maintaining the impetus of continued improvement.

Information about the school

This school is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. Almost all pupils are from White British backgrounds.

Of the very few with minority ethnic heritage, none speaks English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is below average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs is average.

The school meets the current government floor standards for pupils' attainment and progress. The current team of class teachers were all appointed to the school in September 2010. The school has gained Healthy Schools status and the Investor in People award.