Langham Village School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

Langham provides its pupils with an outstanding quality of education. The inspirational headteacher, his dedicated staff team and the astute governing body, all share the drive, skills and ambition to build on the school's many successes, with energy and enthusiasm.

The school's evaluation of its performance is detailed and highly accurate. The diversity of pupils' academic interests and their personal achievements is celebrated. Parents' and carers' are closely involved in their children's education and show great appreciation of the school's work.

They typically comment, 'This is a dynamic and nurturing school, giving an educational experience that our children will treasure.' Current stand...ards are high in Years 2 to 6, with the very large majority of pupils working at levels at least two years above their chronological ages, in English and mathematics. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities also attain highly compared to similar pupils nationally.

They are on track to achieve expected levels for average ability Year 6 pupils in 2012. Standards have been well above average for several years. As a result, pupils make outstanding progress in learning.

Their reasoning skills are highly developed in the clarity of their responses to teachers' extremely challenging questions. Teaching and the assessment of pupils' progress are outstanding, characterised, for example, by impressive expectations. In the Reception and Year 1 class, standards and teaching are good and significantly improved since the previous inspection.

Pupils' learning needs are met well, enabling them to make consistently good progress with some that is outstanding in the youngest children's reading and writing in Year 1. However, lesson planning in both years, although good, is not of the same quality as the planning for individual pupils in other years, in setting consistently challenging tasks to accelerate learning. Pupils' personal development is outstanding.

They are inquisitive and enthusiastic learners, relishing the innovative curriculum and opportunities for scientific enquiry involved in the beach project. They take strong ownership of their independent learning. Their behaviour is excellent and their uptake of healthy lifestyles is impressive, as is their contribution to local, wider and international communities.

Given the high standards of attainment, pupils' outstanding progress and personal development and excellent improvement since the previous inspection, the school's capacity to further improve is outstanding.

Information about the school

Langham is a very small school situated in rural North Norfolk. About half of the pupils come from other small villages across this wide and remote area.

Almost all pupils are of White British heritage with a very few from Other White backgrounds. None are learning English as an additional language. An above average proportion of pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities at the school action plus stage.

No pupils have a statement of educational need. A low proportion of pupils are known to be eligible for free school meals. The headteacher, who has no deputy, teaches on two days of the week.

There are 3 classes, for Reception children and Year 1 pupils; for Years 2 and 3; and for pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6. The school has adopted the International Primary Curriculum and has the full International Award. It also has Investors in Pupils and Extended Healthy Schools status.