Barkway VA Church of England First School

Overview

This is a “warm, welcoming and nurturing school” where pupils are “well looked after” and “enjoy school.” Leaders have designed an “exciting and ambitious curriculum” that meets pupils’ precise needs, resulting in strong progress, particularly in reading and for those with special educational needs.

Strengths

• Staff teach a “well-structured programme” for reading and phonics, ensuring pupils learn sounds quickly and catch up if they fall behind.
• Teachers “skilfully adapt learning” to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, who make “strong progress from their individual starting points.”
• The curriculum promotes personal development through books that “challenge stereotypes and explore diversity,” helping pupils understand differences and respect one another.
• Pupils’ well-being is prioritised through activities like yoga and a Nurture group, which helps them develop social skills and the confidence to discuss their feelings.
• Staff are “overwhelmingly positive about working at the school,” valuing leaders’ support for their well-being and workload.

Areas to improve

• Some staff have not yet developed the skills to use questioning effectively to check pupils’ knowledge, meaning misunderstandings are sometimes missed and progress slowed.
• Governors lack a secure understanding of the curriculum quality in subjects other than English and mathematics, preventing them from fully assuring themselves of pupil achievement in foundation subjects.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.