Sherington Church of England School

Overview

Sherington Church of England School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. Pupils flourish in a "caring and happy" environment where they feel safe, well looked after, and are encouraged to be "inquisitive learners." The school is described as "calm and purposeful," with staff maintaining high expectations for behaviour and attitudes towards learning.

Strengths

• The curriculum is "broad, rich and carefully crafted," designed to meet pupils’ needs and identify key knowledge.
• Staff provide "appropriately tailored work" for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, enabling them to access the same curriculum as their peers.
• Reading is "at the heart of the curriculum," supported by a "consistent and effective approach" to phonics and regular story sessions.
• Pupils develop strong oracy skills, speaking "confidently and with enthusiasm," and are supported to become good citizens through learning about diversity and tolerance.
• The governing body and staff are a "highly committed and effective team" with a "relentless drive for continuous improvement."

Areas to improve

• Occasionally, some learning tasks are "less effective in helping pupils to deepen their knowledge," meaning some pupils do not achieve as well as they could.
• The school should ensure that work set "consistently enables all pupils to develop detailed knowledge and skills" to gain greater depth of understanding.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.