Yalding, St Peter and St Paul Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Pupils achieve well, personally and academically. They are rightly proud of their achievements, including in subjects such as music and physical education (PE). This is a very reflective school.

The successful promotion of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is a significant strength. It makes an important contribution to pupils' personal development and behaviour, which are good overall. Warm relationships, a thoughtfully designed environment and effective teaching get children quickly off the mark in the Reception Year.

By the time pupils reach the end of key stage 2, they attain well in reading, writing and mathem...atics, compared with national averages. In recent years, the proportion of the most able pupils reaching the higher standards, by the end of Year 6 has markedly improved. Leaders and governors have been successful in their aim of linking learning in different subjects more closely.

In particular, pupils have a range of meaningful opportunities to write, especially in history. Notable strengths in the current senior leadership are moving the school securely in the right direction. Current leaders and governors are ambitious and determined to make the school the best it can be.

The headteacher has high expectations of the quality of teaching. Senior leaders have secured improvements and effective teaching overall. They know where variabilities remain and continue in their determination to eradicate these.

Although pupils achieve well in a wide range of subjects, the quality of their learning and work is better in some subjects than others. Subject leaders are starting to take a bigger role in the improvement strategy, but many are relatively new to role. Typical of their aspirations for the school, senior leaders have identified many pertinent ways in which they wish to improve it.

However, these are not always prioritised well enough to ensure that the relatively small team focuses sharply on the things that will make the biggest difference.

Information about this school

This is a Church of England voluntary controlled school. The most recent section 48 inspection of the school's ethos and collective worship was on 10 February 2014.

Due to the maximum number of pupils the school is permitted to admit in each year group, some pupils are taught in mixed-age classes. The early years provision is for Reception children only. There is no provision for two-year-olds.

There have been significant changes of leadership at all levels since the previous Ofsted inspection, including several changes of headteacher. At times, there have been interim rather than substantive headteacher arrangements for leading the school. The school offers a breakfast club.