Whitchurch Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy and proud to belong to this small, caring community school.

Their attendance is high because they really enjoy coming to school. Pupils feel excited about the learning opportunities that staff provide. As one parent stated: 'Children are at the heart of learning.'



Pupils know that all staff at the school want the very best for them. Consequently, they want to learn and rise to the challenges the school provides. Overall, pupils' achievements are positive, and they learn well through the school's improved curriculum.

Pupils really value the 'Lucky Stars' rewards they receive in recognition of their achievements.

There are w...arm and trusting relationships that permeate throughout the school. Younger pupils feel well looked after by older pupils.

They are confident that they can share any concerns with 'anti-bullying ambassadors' and 'playground buddies'. Pupils actively follow the school's motto of 'being an upstander, not a bystander' and feel empowered to manage any minor disagreements.

Enrichment goes beyond the academic curriculum.

This is a crucial part of the school's ethos. Pupils enjoy a range of trips, visitors and special events. There are several clubs on offer, including 'maths munchers'.

These are well attended by pupils of all ages.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has a clear mission: to provide a high-quality education for all pupils. There is an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum in place for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The school ensures that any additional needs that pupils may have are identified as early as possible. Pupils are then quickly supported to avoid any wasted opportunities in their learning.

In most subjects, the school has identified the important knowledge, skills and vocabulary it wants pupils to learn.

In stronger areas, such as mathematics, pupils have secure knowledge and can explain their thinking clearly. This begins in Reception, where adults provide a range of opportunities for children to practise counting and exploring number in a range of activities. In some other curriculum areas, however, where learning is not as well developed, pupils do not always systematically remember the most important knowledge they have been taught.

Instead, pupils may remember and recall the experiences and 'wow moments' in lessons. Pupils therefore have some gaps in their understanding and are not always confident as they move on to explore new learning.

The school places a high priority on reading.

In early years, children experience a range of stories as part of their curriculum. Pupils enjoy the challenge of broadening the range of authors they read. They learn to share their reading journeys online with staff and their peers.

Pupils from Reception to Year 2 consistently learn through the school's phonics programme. Teachers check pupils' phonics knowledge carefully and systematically. They use this information to provide any extra support for those pupils who need help to catch up.

Pupils love receiving the rewards they are given in recognition of their regular reading.

The school has a welcoming and engaging learning environment. In early years, children build the foundations of learning through mostly purposeful activities and positive relationships.

Staff work well to secure children's language and communication skills. Children are encouraged to be inquisitive and to show determination as they complete activities. Staff teach pupils to explore their emotions.

This helps them to develop self-control and independence.

Staff understand the needs of pupils well in this small school. Staff have created a shared sense of community and purpose.

They set clear expectations for behaviour, and most pupils engage well in lessons. If pupils occasionally do not demonstrate the expected behaviours, staff provide effective support to address this. The youngest children learn routines quickly, and this helps them as they progress through the school.

This also helps pupils to maintain the high levels of attendance that already exist across the school.

The school's approach to supporting pupils' personal development is exceptional. Staff are determined to ensure that inclusivity and diversity thread through all aspects of school life.

Pupils learn age-appropriate knowledge of healthy relationships. They gain a deep understanding of the wider world through learning about other cultures and religions. Pupils are accepting of differences in their views of each other and reflect upon what this means.

Pupils enjoy the range of clubs on offer. These help to develop their interests and talents. Pupils learn about eating well and maintaining an active lifestyle.

They also learn how to keep themselves safe, including when online.

Pupils' sense of belonging to the school community is shared by staff, who are also proud to work here and feel appreciated by leaders and governors.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Some areas of the curriculum are still at an early stage of implementation. This means that the strong practice seen more widely is not yet fully secure in a small number of subjects and, consequently, pupils are not achieving as highly as intended. The school should continue its work to refine the curriculum in these areas to ensure it is securely and consistently embedded.

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