Whaplode Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

The new headteacher has established a clear vision for the school. Her determination that all staff use assessment information accurately has been crucial in driving improvements. Pupils start school with skills and abilities expected for their age.

They now make good progress in all years and more reach the higher levels than at the time of the previous inspection. Pupils who receive the pupil premium funding, disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs, make good progress. They receive good-quality support.

Leaders have tackled underperformance and raised the quality of teaching, so that it is now good. Pupils... are enthusiastic learners and are actively involved in checking and reviewing their work to help themselves to improve. Pupils' behaviour, attitudes to learning and respect for each other are outstanding.

They are enormously proud of their school, and parents and pupils agree that the school keeps them very safe. Governors understand the school well. They provide a good balance of support and challenge, and are ambitious for continued improvement.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not all teachers thoroughly check that all pupils understand what is being taught. Nor do they adapt their teaching accordingly. This means that, occasionally, pupils who need extra help or more challenging work, do not make progress as quickly as they might.

Teachers' expectations of pupils' writing vary and some provide more stimulating opportunities to write than others. School leaders' are not yet making thorough checks on the impact of the extra sessions arranged to support pupils identified as needing to make faster progress.

Information about this school

Whaplode is slightly smaller than the average-sized primary school, with one class in each year group.

The headteacher joined the school in September 2013 and there have been some changes to the teaching staff since this time. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds and the proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is well below average. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is average, as is the proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium, which is additional government funding provided for pupils who are looked after by the local authority and those known to be eligible for free school meals, is average. The school runs a daily breakfast club which is managed by the governing body. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics.

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