Old Buckenham Primary School and Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders have made improvements to the quality of education pupils receive.

Standards are rising and pupils make better progress than in previous years. The effective executive headteacher, ably supported by the head of school, has successfully built a strong staff team committed to improving pupils' outcomes. Leaders and governors have an accurate view of the school's strengths and areas for development.

Their determined and sharply focused actions are improving pupils' achievement in reading, writing and mathematics. Leaders responsible for the pupil premium funding are knowledgeable and ensure that disadvantaged pupils have the appropri...ate support to achieve well. The provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is highly effective.

Support is well planned and monitored closely. Pupils with SEND make good or better progress from their different starting points. Pupils are well cared for in a safe, positive and inclusive learning environment.

The nurture provision that the school provides to support more vulnerable pupils is strong. Pupils are polite and behave well. There is a harmonious, busy and purposeful atmosphere in classrooms.

Pupils benefit from access to a broad and balanced curriculum. However, leaders for subjects other than English and mathematics do not have a clear understanding of the quality of teaching and outcomes in their subjects to ensure pupils achieve well across the wider curriculum. Many parents and carers are full of praise for the school's provision.

However, some have concerns about aspects of communication with the school. Teachers plan learning activities that enable most pupils to make good progress. However, the work for the most able pupils is not routinely demanding enough.

This means that these pupils do not consistently achieve as well as they could. Children make good progress in early years. The Reception class children enjoy the enthusiastic teaching and wide range of activities planned for them.

Leaders are working to ensure that the provision in the new Nursery class is as effective.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school. It is sponsored by the Sapientia Education Trust.

The trust delegates aspects of governance to the local governing body. The board of trustees is the accountable body. Most pupils are White British.

The proportion of pupils eligible for support through pupil premium funding is below the national average. The proportion of pupils who receive SEND support is below the national average. The proportion who have an education, health and care plan is above the national average.

The executive headteacher leads two other local primary schools, spending two days a week at Old Buckenham Primary. In September 2018, the school extended its age range to two to 11 year-olds. The school now has a Nursery class within the early years provision.