Mursley Church of England School

Inspection of a good school: Mursley Church of England School Main Street, Mursley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK17 0RT

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Outcome

Mursley Church of England School continues to be a good school.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils told inspectors that they like their school. They said that their lessons are fun. Mathematics is a favourite subject for many. Pupils said that they enjoy forest school and the many clubs they can go to at lunchtimes and after school. Pupils especially like it when they have special days, trips or visitors. They said that these days feel like, ‘little holidays’.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils behave very well in school. They listen carefully to each other and adults. They join in enthusiastically during stories and lessons and work hard. Pupils take part in the games that are organised for them on the playground. At other times, they enjoy chatting and exploring with their friends. There are plenty of kind adults on hand to help organise games or help to sort out any problems.

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What is it like to attend this school?

All of the pupils that inspectors spoke to said that they feel safe in school. They know lots of adults they would talk to if there was a problem. They do not worry about being bullied. They enjoy learning about how to keep themselves safe through activities such as playing at being health and safety people, complete with clipboards and yellow jackets.

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

The school still provides a good and improving quality of education. Leaders have thought very carefully about how to revise the curriculum. They have made sure that the new plans they have in place help pupils to learn more and remember more across a wide range of subjects.

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

The new plans make clear to teachers exactly what to teach pupils and in what order. In art, for example, pupils learn about colours and lines before looking at how artists apply these skills. Leaders and governors know that they will have to look carefully at how well the plans work throughout the year and that the plans may need some tweaking.

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

Younger pupils learn to use phonics quickly. Adults are well trained to use the phonics 12 September 2019

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programme to achieve this. Teachers keep regular checks on pupils’ progress. Any pupil who falls behind or struggles is given the help they need to catch up. Pupils told us that they enjoy learning phonics. Inspectors saw how confidently they use these skills in their reading.

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Reading is taught well. Teachers are well trained in teaching the skills pupils need, such as comprehension. As pupils start to learn sounds, teachers get them reading straight away. Adults choose books for pupils that are carefully matched to the sounds they are learning. Pupils understand how important reading is. Some Year 2 pupils proudly told us about the books and authors they enjoy. They read many different types of books and learn a new poem every week. Younger pupils are helped by learning plenty of rhymes and songs.

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Mathematics is taught well. Teachers have clear guidance about what to teach. They have been well trained and are supported well by leaders. Pupils benefit from clear plans which build their skills and give them plenty of opportunities to use these to solve problems. Pupils enjoy mathematics. They explain their thinking confidently.

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Teachers understand the difficulties faced by pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in their classes. Teaching is well informed by clear support plans. These are regularly reviewed to check that pupils are learning well. In lessons, pupils with SEND are supported by kind adults whom they know and trust. Teachers make sure that the work is matched closely to pupils’ needs.

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Parents are very well included in school life. Staff provide lots of meetings and opportunities for parents to learn more about how best to help and support their children. Parents told us how pleased they are with the school. They particularly like the happy atmosphere and the importance placed on showing kindness and care.

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Children are safe and happy in the early years. They learn and play together happily. Staff provide lots of stimulating learning experiences for them. They skilfully encourage children to explain their thinking and learn new words. Staff make sure that children have the skills and confidence to successfully move on to Year 1.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are well trained and confident in knowing what to do if they have concerns about a pupil. Leaders act quickly on any information they are given. They work collaboratively with a range of agencies both from within the local authority and elsewhere to make sure pupils get the support they need.

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Safeguarding

The designated leads for safeguarding are exceptionally well informed. They make sure that staff and parents get the information they need to help keep pupils safe. For example, regular workshops on e-safety help parents keep their children safe as they begin to use the internet. 12 September 2019

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 The revised curriculum has been planned well. However, it is at very early stages of implementation. Staff know that further modifications may be needed as the curriculum embeds and evolves. Leaders and governors need to ensure that their monitoring of the success of the new curriculum is rigorous and effective. This will enable leaders to make appropriate changes if required, to ensure that the curriculum supports the learning of all pupils in the school equally well. This will also enable governors to have a clearer understanding of the quality of education the school is providing.

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Background

When we have judged a school to be good we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good. This is called a section 8 inspection of a good school or non-exempt outstanding school. We do not give graded judgements on a section 8 inspection. However, if we find some evidence that the school could now be better than good or that standards may be declining, then the next inspection will be a section 5 inspection. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the section 8 inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will convert the section 8 inspection to a section 5 inspection immediately.

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Background

This is the second section 8 inspection since we judged Mursley Church of England School to be good on 22 June 2011.

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How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use Ofsted Parent View information when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 12 September 2019

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School details

Inspection number 10111252 Type of school Infant

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Headteacher Carol-Anne McCollum and David May

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School details

Date of previous inspection 3 February 2016

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Information about this school

 This is a small Church of England voluntary controlled school with 43 pupils on roll. The intake number for each year group is 15. The school is divided into two classes: early years foundation stage and key stage 1. Years 1 and 2 are taught separately in the morning for literacy and numeracy.  Mursley Church of England School is partnered with Drayton Parslow and Swanbourne Church of England Schools and run under an executive headteacher. This role is currently shared by two leaders.  The governing body took over the management of Kingfishers Pre-school in May 2011. This part of the school caters for two-year-olds and upwards.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspectors met with the executive co-headteachers, leaders, staff, and a representative from the governing body. A telephone conversation was held with a representative of the local authority.  Inspectors looked closely at the provision for reading, mathematics and art across the school. They visited a range of lessons and looked at learning plans. Inspectors spoke to pupils and staff about pupils’ learning and looked at pupils’ work. 12 September 2019

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 Inspectors spoke to pupils, parents and staff about the school’s work to keep pupils safe. Records and documentation were considered, along with the school’s single central record.

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Inspection team

Deborah Gordon, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection team

Jane Ferguson Ofsted Inspector 12 September 2019

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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