Adisham Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The headteacher and trust leadership team have a clear and ambitious vision. It penetrates through every layer of the school so that everyone is working together effectively. This has resulted in outstanding provision.

Parents and governors value the small, 'family' atmosphere of the school. They also recognise how belonging to the wider trust has facilitated high-quality training for staff and increased opportunities for pupils. Strengthening middle leadership is driving the school forward highly effectively for all groups of pupils, especially in English and mathematics.

Pupils' spiritual, moral, cultural and social development ...forms the bedrock of this outstanding school. The core values of friendship, compassion, trust and truth are woven through the curriculum and everyday life at school. Pupils behave impeccably.

The rich curriculum engages pupils extremely well in their learning. In addition to developing subject-specific knowledge, skills and understanding, it offers pupils a wide range of opportunities to develop and further extend their writing skills. Leaders acknowledge that pupils' mathematical skills are not developed and applied well enough in other subjects.

Teachers and support staff have secure subject knowledge that helps them to develop pupils' thinking. They provide just the right amount of challenge so that pupils are excited by learning and make rapid rates of progress from their different starting points. Adults' questioning is highly effective in assessing pupils' understanding and extending their thinking.

Pupils provide articulate responses, exemplifying their reasoning. This helps learning to move at a rapid pace and ensures any misconceptions are identified. Pupils attain well across the curriculum.

In 2016, outcomes were above national figures in reading, writing and mathematics at both key stages 1 and 2. The small numbers of disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities are provided for well. They make at least good, and often rapid, progress.

Highly effective phonics teaching has ensured that all pupils have reached the required standard in Year 1 over the last three years. Outstanding teaching and a range of exciting activities, both inside and out, ensure that children get off to a flying start in the early years.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.

The school complies with Department for Education guidance on what academies should publish. The school converted to become an academy in September 2014, when it became part of the Stour Academy Trust. The trust had assumed leadership of the school prior to conversion in February 2013.

Prior to conversion, the school was inspected in October 2013, when the overall effectiveness was judged to be good. The current headteacher took up post in September 2016. She is supported by the deputy chief executive officer from the trust.

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school. The proportions of disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities are lower than those found nationally. Few pupils have an education, health and care plan.

The very large majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The school meets the current government floor standards which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics. The school provides a breakfast club.