Chirbury CofE VC Primary School & Busy Bees Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy school.

They have respectful relationships with adults and they care about the well-being of each other. Pupils told inspectors that the most important values at their school are kindness and respect. This reflects the strong Christian ethos in this small village school.

Pupils behave well in lessons and when moving around the school. They play happily together at social times. Pupils know what bullying is and what to do if it happens.

They told inspectors that bullying is not a problem at the school.

Leaders ensure that pupils have an impressive range of exciting opportunities that enhance the curriculum. Pupils visit the theatre, museu...ms, galleries and take trips to cities across the United Kingdom.

Residential visits include a trip to Normandy, France. Everyone learns to play a musical instrument and has the chance to take part in public performances. Pupils can attend a range of sports clubs.

They take part in a sports festival each half term.

Leaders have significantly improved the quality of education at the school. As a result, most pupils achieve well in a wide range of subjects.

Parents are positive about the changes at the school. They agree that their children are safe and happy.

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

All staff are determined that pupils will succeed academically and personally.

Outdoor learning opportunities make the most of the school's rural location. Leaders ensure that pupils develop an understanding of the wider world outside of their village. This includes learning about different faiths and cultures.

Pupils are respectful of differences. They say that everyone is welcome at their school, regardless of skin colour, religion or culture.

Leaders have planned a curriculum that is well sequenced to ensure that pupils will know and remember more in most subjects.

Some of these plans are very well established. For example, in music pupils acquire knowledge of different types of music and they learn how to compose a simple tune. Pupils learn to play woodwind and string instruments and they sing regularly.

In some subjects, plans are less well organised, including in science. Pupils do not build and deepen their knowledge. This is because they do not revisit what they have already learned to ensure that they have remembered it.

However, leaders have appropriate plans in place to address this. Some other subjects have new leaders. At the moment, these leaders do not have the opportunity to check the quality of education in their subject.

Staff teach phonics well. Leaders make sure that all staff are appropriately trained. Over the last two years, all pupils achieved the expected standard in the Year 1 phonics screening check.

This is an improvement. Pupils are fluent readers, because their reading books are well matched to the sounds that they know. Older pupils enjoy reading and described in detail their favourite books and authors.

Pupils in key stage 2 who need extra help with reading are well supported to catch up. The new library has a wide range of books. There is a high level of interest in the library's wrapped 'mystery' books! Pupils are open to trying something new.

Pupils achieve well in mathematics. They have a secure understanding of calculation strategies. Teachers make use of their knowledge of gaps in pupils' learning to plan tasks to address this.

Pupils are not yet given enough opportunities to apply their knowledge to solving problems or to reason about their work. This means that they do not deepen their knowledge as well as they could.

Teachers have high expectations of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

They plan tasks that are well matched to individual pupils' needs. Pupils with SEND make good progress in most subjects.

The governors now manage Busy Bees day nursery.

A new curriculum has been introduced which is appropriately sequenced in all areas of learning. This is in the early stages of implementation. There is more to do to ensure that activities, particularly for the most able children, successfully build on what they already know and can do.

Children now have enhanced opportunities to learn outdoors due to recent changes to the environment. Children enjoy coming to school, where they are well cared for. They are interested in their learning and are well prepared for Year 1.

Pupils behave well. They try hard to always produce their best work. They have positive attitudes to school life.

Members of the newly elected school council are proud to represent other pupils. They have recently been involved in making plans to improve the school site.

Governors are dedicated to the school.

They provide effective support and challenge to leaders. They prioritise staff well-being. Staff enjoy working at the school, where they are valued by leaders and parents.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders ensure that the safeguarding of children is a top priority. All staff receive regular training, so they know how to spot the signs that a child's welfare may be at risk.

They know how to report any concerns. Records show that leaders act on these concerns promptly to ensure that pupils get the help they need.

Leaders carry out the right checks before anyone can work or volunteer at the school.

There is a well-planned curriculum to ensure that pupils learn how to keep themselves safe. Using the internet safely is a key part of this learning.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

Leaders have recently made changes to how some subjects, including science, are planned.

Leaders should make checks on how well these plans are being implemented. This is so that they know how well pupils are learning and remembering more. .

Pupils have a secure understanding of how to complete mathematical calculations. However, pupils do not deepen their understanding of mathematics as well as they could. Teachers should provide more opportunities for pupils to apply their knowledge when solving mathematical problems and reasoning about their work.

. Leaders of some subjects are new. At the moment, they do not evaluate how well their subject is being implemented and how well pupils are achieving.

Senior leaders should enable them to do this. . Last year, the early years was expanded to include a nursery.

A new curriculum has been introduced that appropriately sequences all areas of learning. Sometimes, learning for the most able children does not build well enough on what they already know. Leaders should check how well the new curriculum is being implemented, so that children are enabled to reach the standards of which they are capable.