Chivenor Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud to attend this school and feel happy and secure. Staff go to great lengths to care for pupils.

They model kindness and respect. Pupils trust adults in the school and know that they want the best for them.

Behaviour in the school is calm and purposeful.

Pupils rise to the high expectations that adults have for them. Pupils move around the school respectfully and play well together. They enjoy the rewards they receive for following the school rules and working hard.

The school expects its pupils to succeed and leaders say that there are 'no barriers' here. Pupils achieve well across a range of subjects. Effective support is provided fo...r pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to achieve alongside their peers.

An extensive range of curriculum enrichment activities broaden pupils' experiences and their outlook on the world. These include trust-wide sports, science and arts festivals. Many pupils take up the rich variety of after-school activities provided by the school.

Pupils take their leadership roles seriously. Whether as house captains, a 'Generation Griffin' or a member of the pupil parliament, pupils are proud to contribute to their school community.

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

The school has put in place an ambitious curriculum that sets out the knowledge that pupils should know in all subjects.

In lessons, staff know their subjects well and explain new learning clearly. In most subjects, staff regularly check pupils' learning and use the information that they gather to adapt future teaching. In these subjects, pupils achieve well.

They consistently produce high-quality work. Pupils are proud of what they accomplish and are eager to make their work even better. However, in a few subjects, the school is in the process of developing its approach to assessing what pupils know and remember.

In these subjects, teachers do not have an accurate picture of pupils' achievement over time. Consequently, in these subjects, pupils do not learn as well as they could.

The school ensures that all pupils access the curriculum.

No time is wasted in identifying pupils with SEND. Staff members know pupils' needs well. Each pupil with SEND has carefully considered targets and strategies in place to support their learning.

This helps pupils with SEND to overcome barriers to learning and achieve well.

Reading has a high profile in the school. Phonics is taught consistently well.

This ensures that children get off to a strong start in learning to read. Staff carefully check the letters and sounds that pupils know and ensure that, if any pupils fall behind, staff give effective support. Pupils read books that match the sounds they know and have learned.

This helps them to read with increasing fluency and confidence. As pupils move through the school, their love of reading grows. They enjoy the range of books that the school provides.

Pupils learn the importance of good behaviour from the moment they start school. In the Reception classes, pupils settle quickly. They learn to follow routines, develop their independence and become a good friend.

This continues throughout the school. Pupils are polite and considerate of others. When new pupils arrive, they are warmly welcomed and treated with kindness.

This means they settle well into school life. Pupils love to learn. During lessons, they have exceptional attitudes to learning.

They are motivated to achieve and respond well to feedback from their teachers.Provision for pupils' personal development is a strength of the school. It is rooted in the school's pillars of 'Proud Traditions, Wide Horizons and High Achievement'.

Pupils' individuality and interests are of great importance. The school gives pupils opportunities to develop their talents, both inside and outside of school. Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe.

They learn about different relationships, faiths and cultures. This helps them to understand the importance of respecting and valuing difference and diversity. They value making a difference within and beyond their school community.

They like looking after and improving the school environment and enjoy working with pupil parliaments across the trust.Staff support each other and work well as a team. They are proud to work at the school.

They are deeply committed to the school and the community it serves. They know leaders consider their well-being and workload. Leaders and governors share common values and a clear vision.

Governors know the school well. They offer effective support and challenge in key aspects of the school's work.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, teachers do not check what pupils remember precisely enough. This means that some pupils develop gaps in their knowledge. The school should identify and address gaps in pupils' understanding to help them to learn knowledge securely over time.