Calverton Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school has a relentless focus on ensuring that pupils receive the highest possible quality of education. There is a sharp emphasis on both academic rigour and personal development, which ensures pupils excel. The school has high expectations for all pupils.

As a result, pupils achieve extremely well.

Staff know the pupils well and have built very positive relationships with them. This ensures that pupils are safe in school.

Kindness is central to the culture of the school. Pupils take great pride in how they look after and support each other. Pupils are extremely friendly, polite and confident.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They enjoy being in ...school and are enthusiastic during lessons. The school has thoughtfully developed its approach to ensure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) take part actively and effectively in their learning.

The 'Treehouse' provision provides exceptional support and highly personalised curriculums for pupils with a wide range of needs. These pupils achieve very well.

Pupils develop their talents and interests through an extensive range of high-quality clubs.

These include boxing, sewing and cheerleading. Pupils benefit from a range of pupil leadership opportunities, including school council members, eco-warriors and well-being ambassadors. These help pupils to develop their organisational and interpersonal skills exceptionally well.

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

Leaders at all levels have worked extremely effectively to make rapid and sustainable improvements across all areas of the school's work. They have carefully considered staff's workload and well-being during this period of change. The school has developed a very strong training programme for staff.

This leads to sustained and continuous improvement in the quality of education. Governors understand the strengths and areas of priority for the school. They provide appropriate challenge and support for leaders at all levels.

The school has developed an ambitious curriculum for pupils. It was expertly redesigned following the previous inspection and is now highly effective in each subject. The school worked extremely effectively to address any historic gaps that pupils may have had in their knowledge.

As a result of this work, pupils' attainment in national outcomes has improved year-on-year and is now above average. Pupils achieve highly in different curriculum subjects.

The curriculum is designed to build pupils' understanding progressively over time.

Staff have identified the precise knowledge they want pupils to learn at each stage of the curriculum. As a result, pupils develop a deep understanding of the curriculum and retain knowledge over time. Subject-specific vocabulary has been carefully considered throughout the curriculum.

Pupils use these words and phrases regularly with accuracy and remarkable confidence.Teachers have expert subject knowledge and present information clearly. They use a wide range of strategies to check for understanding and address pupils' misconceptions quickly.

This supports pupils to produce work of very high quality. In the early years, staff are highly skilled in developing children's language and communication skills. This helps to ensure that children are fully ready for Year 1.

Pupils with SEND are supported exceptionally well, both in mainstream lessons and in the 'Treehouse' provision. Pupils' needs are identified effectively based on their individual needs. Teachers and support staff have the knowledge and understanding to make effective adaptations to their teaching to ensure pupils with SEND are successful.

Pupils with SEND flourish in their educational and social development.

The school has placed a sharp focus on the teaching of early reading. Staff have the skills and expertise to deliver the phonics programme effectively.

They identify any pupils who have fallen behind the pace of the programme swiftly. Extra support is put in place for these pupils to ensure they catch up quickly. This ensures that pupils become fluent and confident readers.

Pupils consistently demonstrate excellent attitudes to their learning. They are extremely engaged during lessons and enjoy contributing their ideas and opinions. Children in the early years are highly motivated learners.

They share and cooperate very well and show respect for each other. The school has robust procedures in place to support pupils to attend school regularly. It identifies any reasons for absence and has put in place a wide range of strategies to improve attendance.

As a result, the attendance of pupils, including pupils with SEND, continues to improve.

The school has developed a thoughtful personal development programme. This is rooted in the values of the school.

The school ensures that all pupils develop a deep understanding of how to stay safe and healthy. Staff skilfully adapt any learning for pupils with SEND so that they are fully involved. Pupils attend a wide range of trips and regularly welcome external speakers to the school.

Pupils are very well prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils exemplify this learning, for example through the wide range of fundraising and local community events that they organise.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.