Brierley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils make excellent gains in their learning because the headteacher and staff are united in their determination to get the very best for and from every pupil.

Pupils learn exceptionally well because much of the teaching is outstanding. Teachers have high expectations and pupils rise to the challenge and delight in learning. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary.

They are very welcoming, kind and courteous and take a great deal of pride in their work and in their school. Pupils say they feel very safe and very well looked after at school and show high levels of care for each other. Attendance has risen markedly since the previous inspe...ction.

However, despite the significant improvements made school leaders are aware that attendance is not yet as high as they would like it to be. They have clear plans in place to help ensure attendance improves still further. Leaders and managers know the school extremely well and are rigorous in their self-evaluation.

They plan in meticulous detail to ensure that pupils receive the highest quality education. The rich and wide curriculum is designed to capture pupils' interests and imagination. Governors have considerable expertise and a keen insight and provide a great deal of support.

Through rigorous monitoring, they challenge the school to ensure it is doing as well as it can. There is a strong sense of community and purpose. Every child is made to feel they really do matter.

The school supports pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development extremely well. Parents who made their views known to the inspection team believe that 'children flourish at Brierley Primary'.

Information about this school

This is a smaller than average-sized primary school.

Most pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported at school action is broadly average. However, the proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is above average.

The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium funding is above average. (The pupil premium is additional funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, come from armed forces families and those who are looked after by the local authority.) The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' learning and progress.

The number on roll has risen significantly since the previous inspection. The proportion of pupils who join the school at other than the usual times is greater than that found nationally. The headteacher supports other schools as a Local Leader in Education and the school has operated as a 'Lead Literacy School' for a local university over the past four years.