St Michael’s Church of England First School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Determined and effective leadership by the headteacher, well supported by local governors and academy leaders, has brought significant improvement over the past eighteen months. Good teaching enables pupils to achieve well.

Senior leaders check the quality of teaching and the impact it has on pupils' learning and progress effectively. Consequently, they have a good understanding of the school's strengths and areas in need of improvement. Leaders ensure that their actions bring about the planned improvements.

For example, they have provided quality training to improve teaching, particularly of phonics and reading. Recent changes in staffin...g mean that middle leadership is not yet contributing to school improvement well enough. Teachers have high expectations and plan work for the pupils that is stimulating and challenging.

As a result, all groups of pupils, including the most able, learn well and make good progress. The curriculum provides a wealth of interesting learning experiences, especially in physical education. Pupils make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics.

However, pupils' literacy and mathematical skills are not used and developed well enough across the range of subjects. Teachers ensure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are disadvantaged have their needs carefully assessed and supported well. Consequently, these pupils achieve as well as their classmates.

Pupils share excellent relationships with each other and with staff. This boosts their self-confidence and supports their keen interest in learning. Pupils behave well and take pride in their work.

Pupils say, and their parents agree, that they are very safe at school. Consequently, pupils enjoy school and most attend well. Children in the early years Reception class experience effective and motivating learning experiences.

They make good progress and are well prepared for learning in Year 1.

Information about this school

St Michael's CofE First School is a member of the West Somerset Academies Trust, which consists of seven schools in total. St Michael's became an academy in September 2016.

This first school has five classes, Reception and Years 1-4. It is below average in size. The majority of the pupils are from White British backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is lower than the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is broadly average. The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged is broadly in line with the national average.

The school population is relatively stable, with the proportions of pupils who move in or out of the school typically matching those found nationally. The local governing body manages an after-school care club. Children experience early years provision full time in a Reception class.

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