Rufford Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a school that requires improvement The quality of teaching and learning is variable across the school. In some parts of the school and in some subjects it is not good enough.

Not all teachers have high enough expectations of what pupils can achieve. Some teachers do not ensure that they plan tasks that build on what pupils already know and can do. As a result, pupils' attainment and progress are inconsistent.

Leaders have not ensured that pupil premium funding is used as effectively as possible. As a result, disadvantaged pupils do not achieve as well as they could. Their progress, although improving, is not strong enough to ensure that they catch up w...ith other pupils nationally.

The teaching of phonics is inconsistent. Some pupils, particularly the least able, do not acquire the skills they need to be able to decode words successfully. This means that some pupils do not read fluently and accurately by the end of key stage 1.

Standards in reading, writing and mathematics across the school, while improving, remain low in several year groups. The school's wider curriculum is not planned well enough to ensure that pupils develop knowledge and skills in a wide range of subjects. The role of the subject leader requires further development.

The school has the following strengths Senior leaders and governors have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. As a result, the recent strategies they have introduced to improve the quality of education are appropriate. However, these improvements are not embedded throughout the school.

Pupils behave well in lessons and as they move around the school. They are polite, well mannered and welcoming to visitors. Children get off to a good start in the early years.

They enjoy coming to school, where their needs are well met. Leaders are working hard to improve attendance. Overall attendance is currently in line with the national average for primary schools.

The school provides effective personal, social and emotional support for vulnerable pupils.

Information about this school

This is a smaller than average-sized primary school. The deputy headteacher left the school in July 2018 and this post is currently being filled by the assistant headteacher who is now the acting deputy headteacher.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is above the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils is above the national average.

The local authority has deployed an adviser to support and provide challenge to the school. A review was carried out earlier this year and the school is acting on the advice provided. The school has been allocated funding to work with a national leader of education, but this work is in the very early stages of development.