The Tydd St Mary Church of England Primary School

Inspection of The Tydd St Mary Church of England Primary School Churchway, Tydd St Mary, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 5QY

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years provision Outstanding Previous inspection grade Outstanding 3 and 4 October 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

Tydd St Mary Church of England Primary School is a small village school that has a huge impact. Pupils live and breathe the school’s core values of respect, friendship, honesty, perseverance, responsibility and thankfulness. They describe the school as ‘the best school ever’.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school has the highest expectations for all. It has created an environment where everyone gets the support they need to thrive. Every pupil is known as an individual. Pupils value their learning. They work hard in lessons. Pupils’ behaviour and attitudes are excellent. They are respectful, well-mannered and polite. This has not happened by accident. Staff model respectful and positive relationships.

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What is it like to attend this school?

There are many roles and responsibilities on offer for pupils to contribute to the life of the school and the community. Pupils can be on the school council, be worship leaders or be a ‘buddy’ for a younger child. Pupils enjoy these responsibilities and the charity work they do, knowing that they are ‘supporting other people in the world’.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Parents and carers praise the education and care their children receive. A typical comment was: ‘The school has high expectations of each child. There is a friendly and supportive culture in which all children are valued, recognised and encouraged.’

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better?

The school has designed a highly effective curriculum. It is ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The curriculum identifies the precise knowledge pupils should learn and when they should learn it. Teachers design activities which broaden pupils’ experiences and deepen their insight.

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better?

Teaching is highly effective and inspires and motivates all pupils. Teachers use their knowledge and skills to provide activities that enable pupils to apply what they already know, so that they achieve well. Teachers routinely check that pupils remember the intended learning and step in to support pupils if they find a new concept difficult.

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better?

In mathematics, pupils approach their learning with confidence. They are fluent when using number. They often use technical mathematical language with ease. In lessons, there is a positive buzz of learning.

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better?

Pupils achieve highly in reading. Pupils of all ages are encouraged to develop a love of books. There are book ‘train lines’ in classrooms so that children can select books that interest them, such as picking a book from the ‘Potter line’, and there is a ‘Hobbit hut’ to encourage reading in the playground. Teachers ensure that pupils read and share texts that explore diversity and different groups in society. This helps pupils to broaden their understanding of the wider world. Teachers and other adults 3 and 4 October 2023

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have received training to ensure that they deliver the phonics programme well. Pupils who struggle to learn to read get extra support and practice. The school is highly inclusive. Pupils with SEND receive strong support in lessons. They are fully included in the life of the school. Pupils with SEND flourish. All pupils are encouraged to be the best they can be.

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Children in the early years make an exceptional start to their education. The early years environment is inviting. Children settle well and develop their understanding of routines and expectations. Staff form strong relationships with the children and care for them well. Teachers provide children with interesting activities. These engage children, allowing them to practise the skills they have learned and promote their development.

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The personal development curriculum at Tydd St Mary is remarkable. The school wants to give opportunities to broaden pupils’ horizons. The school has designed an enrichment programme that means all pupils experience memorable moments as part of the ‘30 things to do before I leave Tydd St Mary’ checklist. For such a small school, there is an ambitious range of extra-curricular activities available. Pupils have opportunities to further their talents and interests in areas such as sport, music, art and languages. Educational trips allow pupils to experience a variety of cultural activities, such as museum visits and visits to the beach.

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The school is preparing pupils well for life in modern Britain. Pupils are very knowledgeable about fundamental British values, and they understand the importance of showing respect. They explain that everyone should be treated equally and they value being unique. Pupils develop as respectful young citizens.

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The school is very well led. The governing body and all staff work together in the best interests of all pupils. The school staff feel well supported. They are extremely proud and happy to work at the school and be part of the ‘Tydd school and community family’.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View 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. 3 and 4 October 2023

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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’ is used to mean pupils with SEND; pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school’s pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 3 and 4 October 2023

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Date of previous inspection 5 May 2022, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The last section 48 inspection of Anglican and Methodist schools took place in March 2016.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspectors met with the headteacher, other school leaders and members of the governing body.  The inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: reading, mathematics, physical education and history. For each deep dive, inspectors met with subject leaders, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to groups of pupils 3 and 4 October 2023

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about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. The inspector listened to pupils in Year 1 and Year 2 read to a member of staff.  Inspectors also considered the curriculum plans for design and technology. They also visited music, French and English lessons and looked at pupils’ work.  The inspector reviewed the school’s systems for keeping pupils safe. A meeting was held with the designated safeguarding leader. The lead inspector scrutinised the school’s single central record.  The inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour in lessons and around the school site during playtime.  The inspectors spoke with groups of pupils and staff. An inspector considered the responses to Ofsted Parent View, Ofsted’s online survey for parents, and the staff survey.

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Inspection team

Dawn Ashbolt, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

John Slater Ofsted Inspector 3 and 4 October 2023

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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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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