Whitchurch Combined School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Since their arrival, the headteacher and deputy headteacher have wasted no time in driving improvement in the school. They have quickly identified the areas that need strengthening and put in place measures to ensure that this happens. This is a continuously improving school.

Governors are knowledgeable and ambitious for the school and its pupils. They enjoy strong, collaborative relationships with leaders, and visit the school often to see for themselves the changes that have been made. Governors' checks on safeguarding are regular, well judged and rigorous.

Teachers and teaching assistants know their classes well. They guide pupils skil...fully, asking probing questions to test pupils' understanding. Their work to support pupils who fall behind, including those who are disadvantaged, is particularly effective.

Pupils behave well and enjoy strong relationships with their peers and adults. Pupils are tolerant and respectful. This is a happy school.

Pupils make strong progress in English. Staff have high expectations, and support pupils to write interesting and considered texts, which demonstrate their strong understanding of grammar, punctuation and spelling. Recent improvements in the teaching of mathematics have helped pupils to gain a better understanding of the basics.

Pupils now use their calculation skills to solve complex problems in mathematics. As a result, they make strong progress. Leaders undertake a range of activities to monitor the quality of teaching, learning and assessment.

They use this to provide staff with feedback and support to improve their teaching. Nevertheless, these activities are not always reviewed systematically, meaning that leaders do not use all the available information when evaluating staff and school performance. The curriculum provides pupils with opportunities to learn and develop in a range of subjects.

However, standards in the wider curriculum are not consistently as high as those in English and mathematics. The early years provision is well led and well managed. Recent changes to the transition arrangements have been positively received by parents, pupils and children.

Children make a strong start to their early education and are well prepared for Year 1.

Information about this school

This is a smaller-than-average-sized primary school. The proportion of pupils who are supported by the pupil premium is lower than the national average.

The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is lower than the national average. Since the previous inspection, there have been several changes in staffing, including the headteacher and deputy headteacher. The school meets the current government floor standards.

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