St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry

Overview: St Nicolas' CofE VA School is a joyful and inspirational school where pupils have a deep passion for learning. The school's exceptional offer beyond the academic, including its beachfront location, extra-curricular activities, and residential visits, helps pupils develop their character and understand the diversity of modern Britain.

Strengths:

• The school's approach to developing the whole child is exceptional, with a culture of mutual respect between staff and pupils.
• Pupils are self-motivated to do well, and bullying is not an issue.
• The school's early years provision is outstanding, with staff placing no ceiling on what children can achieve.
• The school's transition to new leadership and changes to the staff team has been a smooth one.
• The school's detailed curriculum has ensured that new staff know precisely what to teach and what pupils have learned previously.

Areas to improve:

• In some subjects, teachers' expectations of what pupils can do are not high enough, leading to pupils not retaining or applying their learning over the long term.
• The school has rightly identified that there is more to do to improve pupils' spelling and handwriting.

Safeguarding: The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.