Newton Ferrers Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

Newton Ferrers is an outstanding school.

The caring ethos of the school, now enriched by its wider partnerships across the federation, is one which welcomes and includes all pupils equally. As a result, pupils are caring of each other and adults. The shared knowledge that everyone's efforts are valued means that pupils throw themselves wholeheartedly into their work, consistently give of their best and make excellent progress.

Parents and carers recognise and appreciate these qualities; one expressed a typical view in the comment, 'We could not be happier with our children's education.' The driving force behind the school's success is undoubtedly the inspirational executive headteacher and hi...s excellent collaborative work with other very capable senior leaders. Their passionate focus on developing high-quality teaching and learning has brought the full benefits of the federation's expertise to lift the school's provision to an outstanding level.

Strong governance, representative of all schools in the federation and with clearly defined aims and responsibilities, in combination with close collaboration between senior staff, underpins excellent self-evaluation and ensures that the right priorities are tackled rigorously. This is seen in the pupils' above average attainment and, in particular, in the improved and now high levels of attainment in mathematics and self-enquiry skills, as well as improving writing skills. Although writing is getting better, pupils' ability to form complex sentences still requires further improvement.

Inherent strengths in care and in pupils' personal qualities are enhanced by excellent teaching and learning, and now secure pupils' excellent academic achievement. Exemplary teaching enables pupils to become highly proficient in learning independently while sustaining a keen willingness to share ideas and work collaboratively with each other. These outcomes further illustrate the school's ability and determination to sustain its excellent capacity for future development.

This is a highly inclusive school where all staff work diligently to safeguard pupils' welfare and provide a consistently excellent standard of care, guidance and support. Children make a happy and fruitful start to school in Reception or with an increasing number joining later into other year groups. All staff, assisted by high-quality assessment of the pupils' individual needs, ensure that all pupils are known extremely well, have their needs met and feel valued.

Many of the pupils' excellent academic and personal gains, notably their outstanding behaviour, and adoption of healthy living and thorough awareness of how to stay safe, stem from a curriculum that is enhanced by a wealth of interesting activities, which include memorable moments across a range of expressive arts and sporting experiences. Such activities inspire the pupils' very positive attitudes and love of learning. Clearly, pupils enjoy coming to school and attendance is high because : learning is often fun and interests them; as a result, their progress is outstanding.

Information about the school

This primary school is smaller than average in size. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is below average. Most pupils attending the school are of White British heritage and there is a below average percentage of pupils who speak English as an additional language.

The proportion of pupils joining or leaving the school at other than the normal times is above average. The proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is above average and increasing, and varies significantly in the differing year groups across the school. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are taught in a combined Reception/Year1 class.

The breakfast club was included in this inspection as part of the school's own extended curriculum, but the after-school club was subject to a separate inspection. The school has achieved several awards, including, most recently in July of this year, the 'Green Flag Eco Award'. Since September 2010, the school has been part of the First Federation, a hard federation of five primary schools in Devon.

The federation has an executive headteacher, who has overall responsibility for all the schools, a federation head of learning, and a head of teaching and learning who has day-to-day responsibility for the running of Newton Ferrers. The federation also has a shared governing body. The First Federation is now identified as an Academy Convertor, having applied with a group of other schools to become an Academy of Primary Schools.