Derry Hill Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is an outstanding school where pupils achieve exceptionally well.

The headteacher supported by a committed and very effective leadership team have worked relentlessly to raise standards across the school, especially in writing. As a result, overall attainment continues to be above average by the end of Year 6, as it has been over the past three years. Children make an excellent start in Reception, and pupils across the range of ability continue exceptional progress in mathematics and in reading, writing and speaking and listening through the school.

Reading is a key strength of the school. The systematic development of reading has secured exceptional attainment in reading across the schoo...l. The quality of teaching is outstanding.

Teachers have high expectations of all pupils and the pace of learning in lessons proceeds extremely well. Teachers build effectively on accurate assessment of prior learning and excellent lesson planning between teachers and teaching assistants ensure that pupils in need of additional support receive it. At times though, pupils' do not have a clear enough view of how individual targets for improvement link to national curriculum levels to help them fully lift their aspirations.

The school's caring ethos lies at the heart of a stimulating curriculum, which provides valued periods of calm reflection and strongly promotes the pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. As a result, pupils feel very safe and their outstanding behaviour, relationships and attitudes to school underpin their great willingness to learn. Leadership and management are outstanding.

Senior leaders, including governors, share a remarkable sense of ambition and drive to improve the work of the school. Exemplary self-evaluation and sharply focused professional development has improved the quality of teaching and pupils' writing and further show an outstanding capacity to sustain improvement.

Information about the school

Derry Hill Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is an average sized primary school.

This is a one form entry school and children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught in a discrete Reception class. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic groups is below that found nationally and no pupils speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is below average.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is broadly average. The school has achieved Healthy School status and International Schools Award. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set out the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

At the time of the inspection, the headteacher was leading a residential visit to France with Year 6 pupils. In her absence the school was led by the acting deputy headteacher. During the inspection the pupils were taking part in 'Olympic' activities in collaboration with other local schools.

A serious incident that occurred at the school since the previous education inspection has been investigated by the appropriate authorities and is now closed. Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind. The welfare provision in the school was evaluated against the regulations that are in place and inspection judgements are based on the evidence available at the time of the inspection.

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