Rodmersham School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

Rodmersham is an outstanding school where pupils are exceptionally well prepared for their future lives. The school is led by an inspirational headteacher and a highly skilled and dedicated team of staff who are well supported by the governing body. One pupil's words summed up the views of others when saying, 'Our headteacher is very active and great fun, the school would not be complete without him.'

Pupils are known and treated as individuals. This contributes greatly to why relationships are very harmonious and why this is an exceptionally happy and inclusive school. The promotion of equal opportunities is at the core of all that the school does; this aspect of the school's work is also outstandin...g.

Pupils explained, and inspectors endorse, that teaching is often fantastic, everyone is kind and helpful and, activities are fun and challenging. The quality of teaching, learning and the care provided, together with the curriculum, are all judged to be outstanding. There is a superb partnership with parents and carers.

Parents, carers and pupils are delighted with the school and feel that there is an excellent partnership, so that everyone is working together to do the best for the pupils. Pupils are an immense credit to themselves, their parents, carers and their school because they almost always behave exceptionally well and show respect and kindness to others. Moreover, they are enthusiastic and hardworking.

As a consequence of the highest quality leadership, which includes very rigorous self- evaluation, the school has improved in a very impressive way. It has moved up two grade boundaries since its last inspection. Almost all areas of school life show marked change for the better.

Most notably, there has been a rapid rise in the attainment and progress of all groups of pupils, including the most able and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This has resulted in a three year pattern of high attainment and outstanding achievement. Pupils' awareness about how to adopt healthy lifestyles is a particularly impressive element of their wider personal development and is enriched by the many opportunities for sport, exercise, emotional well-being, fresh air and healthy eating.

Based on the impact of leaders' work in two and a half years, the school has an exceptionally strong capacity to continue improving and provides outstanding value for money because the outcomes for pupils are superb. Even so, leaders are never complacent and always want to do even more, as they are constantly looking for ways to fine-tune the school's improvement even further. At the moment, they are correctly exploring ways to extend the internal school accommodation, as it is far too cramped for the rising numbers of pupils attending the school.

Information about the school

Rodmersham is a smaller than average school. Most pupils attend from a radius of one mile around the village. Nearly all the pupils are of White British heritage and a few are from mixed race or Black African backgrounds.

Occasionally there are Traveller pupils from Irish heritage. The percentage of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is below the national average. Most of these pupils have difficulties with literacy, including pupils with dyslexia.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is much lower than average. Pupils enter the Early Years Foundation Stage at the school in the Reception class. The school has received the Activemark and a Healthy School award.

Since the last inspection, there have been considerable changes to staffing. The school is housed in accommodation that is almost 150 years old. The role has risen by just over 20% since the last inspection.