Helmdon Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school.

Parents and carers are very pleased that their children attend the school. They can recommend it to others. One parent wrote, 'I cannot speak too highly of Helmdon Primary School.

It provides fantastic and interesting teaching and the welfare of each child is paramount.' Pupils enjoy school and feel safe and well cared for. Their behaviour is good.

They are attentive in lessons and have good attitudes to their work. The staff work well as a team with much commitment under the good leadership of the headteacher and work very hard on the pupils' behalf. Leaders and managers have a good knowledge of the school's strengths and weaknesses and how to improve.

...>The pupils achieve well. They consistently reach above average standards in English and mathematics. Pupils acquire good communication skills through the opportunities provided.

Pupils' progress in writing is not as good as in reading and mathematics. They do not always develop writing skills in subjects other than English as well as they might. The school provides well for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

The school is well staffed so that these pupils receive the help that they need. These pupils, too, make good progress. Progress is good because of the good teaching.

Work challenges pupils well. However, pupils are not consistently made fully aware of how they can be really successful in their activities. The curriculum is developing well.

Staff are focussed on making it more interesting and creative for the pupils. There is a good range of extra-curricular activities, including sport.

Information about the school

This is smaller than the average sized primary school.

It has five classes, of which three are mixed-age. All pupils commence the Reception class in the September following their fourth birthday. A high proportion of the children have previously attended Nursery or pre-school groups.

Almost all pupils are of White British heritage and all speak English as their first language. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is below the national average. The percentage of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is about the same as in most schools, although at the current time the proportion of these pupils with statements, mostly for autistic spectrum disorders, is higher than usually seen.

The school manages its own breakfast club. The school has Healthy Schools' status. The school meets the current floor standard, whereby the government sets the minimum expectations for attainment and progress.