Whaddon CofE School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy coming to this welcoming and inclusive village school.

They are happy and feel safe. The school's ambition is for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to achieve highly. However, pupils do not achieve as well as they should in some subjects because the school has not yet delivered its new curriculum effectively.

In lessons and around school, pupils get along well. They abide by the school rules and rise to the consistent behaviour expectations. Relationships between pupils and staff are highly positive and respectful.

Pupils trust adults in school to help them if needed. They have a deep understan...ding of the school values of 'compassion, wisdom and endurance'.

Parents and carers recognise the strengths of the school.

Many of them comment on the positive changes made recently. Pupils benefit from a range of wider learning opportunities, including outdoor learning, instrumental tuition and a whole-school visit to the theatre. Pupils learn to be proud of who they are and know that their opinions matter.

They make a positive contribution to the life of the school and beyond. Pupils are enthusiastic members of their school 'houses' and love the excitement of earning points for their team.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

While the school is ambitious for all pupils to learn a well-structured and exciting curriculum, there remains work to do.

In subjects such as mathematics, the school has identified the essential knowledge they want pupils to learn and remember over time. However, in other subjects, the school has not decided on the most important things they want pupils to learn and the order in which these should be taught. Consequently, there are gaps in pupils' subject knowledge, and they do not achieve as well as they should.

The school has identified curriculum sequencing as a priority. All at the school are resolute in their determination to deliver each subject consistently well.

The school's work to improve how reading is taught is not finished.

It introduced a new phonics programme in January 2023, which is well organised and structured. This begins as soon as children start in Reception Year. Children quickly learn new sounds and how to blend these together to make words.

However, not all staff have the expert knowledge they need to deliver the programme effectively. This means that some pupils who struggle to learn to read do not catch up as rapidly as they could.

The behaviour policy is implemented consistently and fairly.

This ensures that school is calm and orderly. Pupils who find it hard to make the right choices get the help that they need to succeed. Social times are positive, and pupils enjoy their time together.

They make good use of the school grounds and equipment available.Pupils are thoughtful towards others, and most try their best when learning. Overall, pupils attend school regularly and arrive on time.

Pupils know how to keep physically and mentally healthy and why this is important. They listen to different views with respect and consideration. There are lots of opportunities for all pupils to contribute to decisions about the school.

For example, pupils recently voted on what to name their school houses and reviewed their lunch hall rules. They know how to keep themselves safe in different situations, including when online. Older pupils can talk about the difference between equality and equity, and how to apply this to school life and beyond.

The school is already preparing its first Year 6 pupils for the move to secondary school.

The early years learning environment, both inside and out, is purposeful and engaging. It is a place where children can flourish and build positive relationships with each other and with the staff.

Right from the start, children learn important skills, such as patience, curiosity and resilience. The early years staff promote children's communication and language, and mathematical development, well. Children learn how to regulate their emotions and to follow the school routines quickly.

The school quickly identifies the needs of children with SEND and provides highly personalised additional support.

The staff are proud to be part of this small, happy and dedicated community. They appreciate learning from each other and the way in which their well-being and workload are considered.

The staff know the priorities and are looking forward together to their hard work paying off.

Leaders' oversight of high-quality learning is not fully effective. They provide support, but do not challenge robustly enough to ensure important aspects of the school undergo careful review and improvement.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Most of the school's curriculum is new and does not yet build from the start of Reception to the end of Year 6. This means that pupils do not always learn or remember the key information they need for what comes next.

The school should ensure that the curriculum thinking and design are completed and shared and that teachers know what is expected of them and how to deliver the curriculum to a high standard. ? While the school's actions to keep children safe are effective, it must make sure that the documentation to support them is detailed and robust. This will ensure that absolutely nothing is missed.

Leaders have not rigorously checked some important aspects of the school's work. There is not always effective challenge and support in order to check the impact of decision-making on pupils. Leaders need to sharpen their processes for evaluation so that they can assure themselves that pupils receive a high quality of education.