Maulden Lower School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

Pupils make good progress and achieve well. Children do well in most areas of learning by the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Pupils' attainment is above average by the end of Year 2, and well above average by the end of Year 4.

Teaching is good and pupils are keen to learn. Teachers keep a close and thorough check on pupils' progress, and use the resulting information well to set demanding targets across the school. Behaviour is good and pupils say that they feel safe in school.

The subjects pupils study are matched well to their needs and interests, and make a good contribution to their spiritual, moral, social and cu...ltural development. The school has improved well since its last inspection. Its leaders, supported well by the governing body, have succeeded in raising achievement and improving the quality of teaching from satisfactory to good.

The school is well placed to improve further. It is not yet an outstanding school because : At times, lesson introductions are too long, and teachers do not explain some tasks clearly enough or ensure that pupils extend their skills by thinking deeply or recording their ideas individually. While senior leaders are ambitious for the school's future, their plans for development are not yet focused clearly on moving the school towards being outstanding.

Information about this school

Maulden Lower is smaller than the average primary school. All the current pupils are of White British heritage and there are none who speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is below average.

The proportions of pupils or who are supported at school action, or at school action plus or who have a statement of special educational needs, are below average. Pupils in Years 3 and 4 are organised into two separate mixed-age classes; they are then re-grouped according to ability for English and mathematics. A new headteacher took up post in April 2010.

A teacher took over the role of acting deputy headteacher in September 2011 and this position was made permanent in May 2012. At the time of the inspection, the work of two teachers on maternity leave was covered by long-term supply teachers. Following the previous full Ofsted inspection in 2009 when the school was judged to be satisfactory, a monitoring visit in June 2011 found that the school had made good improvement and was well placed to improve further.