Lanercost CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The school inspires pupils to thrive in all aspects of their academic achievement and personal development.

Pupils of all ages are highly motivated and high levels of attainment are embedded. Pupils are treated as individuals and, as a result, all pupils, including those eligible for pupil premium, have outstanding achievement. Teaching is outstanding.

Teachers and teaching assistants work extremely well together in ensuring lessons are exceptionally well planned to meet the needs of every pupil. The pace of learning in lessons is rapid, and highly effective use of assessment for learning leads to pupils having an excellent under...standing of how well they are progressing and what they need to do to improve their work further. From an early age, pupils clearly enjoy school and this is demonstrated in their eagerness to learn.

They show a great deal of respect towards each other and to all the staff and visitors to the school. They are polite, courteous, work hard and take pride in all that they do. Pupils' behaviour in lessons, around the school, in the local community and beyond is often exemplary.

Pupils willingly contribute to the school community through their school council. They are proactive in supporting those less fortunate than themselves by instigating fundraising activities. Throughout the school there is a supportive and caring ethos.

Pupils work and play well together. All staff, members of the governing body, volunteers and visitors to the school together create an exceptional environment. This contributes to the pupils being extremely well prepared for the next stage in their education.

Although they use information and communication technology (ICT) across the curriculum, this can be further improved by developing links with the local secondary ICT department. Leadership and management are of the highest quality. Highly effective performance management and appropriately matched professional development to meet the needs of individual staff have led to the development of extremely effective teaching which underpins pupils' high achievement.

Information about this school

Lanercost is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. The vast majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of pupils supported through school action is below the national average.

The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or who have a statement of special educational needs is below the national average. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is below average. There are breakfast- and after-school clubs.

A nursery is a new addition to the school since the previous inspection, resulting in the age range now being 3-11 years. Children are taught in two classes: Class 1 comprises Nursery (mornings only), Reception, Year 1 and Year 2; Class 2 comprises Year 3, 4, 5 and 6. For English and mathematics Years 3 and 4 and Years 5 and 6 are taught separately.

Some pupils are taught in small groups or individually for part of the week, depending on their particular needs. Improvements to the school building since the previous inspection include a new Nursery/Reception room and outdoor covered area as well as a new school office and improved access to the building from the playground. The Early Years Foundation Stage manager is a lead teacher for the local authority.

The school is a Leading Literacy School for the University of Cumbria and an Assessment for Learning lead school. The school is accredited by Kidsafe and is a Kidsafe trainer. The school meets the government's current floor standard, which sets the minimum expectations for attainment and progress in English and mathematics.