Bickleigh Down Church of England Primary School

Inspection of Bickleigh Down Church of England Primary School School Drive, Woolwell, Plymouth, Devon PL6 7JW

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Inspection dates: 31 October and 1 November 2023

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Outstanding Early years provision Outstanding Previous inspection grade Good 31 October and 1 November 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school is welcoming to all pupils and families. Pupils are proud of their school. Their conduct and attitudes demonstrate the school’s values of love and aspiration. Pupils are extremely polite and articulate.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school is unrelentingly ambitious for all pupils. School leaders and staff have high expectations for all pupils. They ensure that pupils are ready for the next stage of their education.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils have a strong understanding of fundamental British values. They know the importance of democracy. Pupils believe strongly in tolerance and equality. They have an insightful understanding of different cultures and religions from around the world. As a result, pupils are respectful of people from different backgrounds.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have created numerous roles for pupils to develop their leadership skills. Pupils in the school council work alongside school leaders. They make an important contribution to improving the school environment.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils have a range of opportunities to develop their own talents and interests. School leaders ensure that all pupils participate in a wide range of enrichment activities and feel successful.

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better?

The school, with the support of staff and governors, has set out a strong and clear vision. Leaders involve pupils, parents and staff to ensure that there is a collaborative approach to improving pupils’ experiences. As a result, pupils are happy and achieve well.

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better?

The school has created an ambitious and well-structured curriculum. Reading is prioritised from the early years onwards. Teachers read a wide range of books to children. Adults skilfully use expression to bring stories to life. This means children learn to love stories from an early age. The school teaches phonics systematically. Staff receive regular training to develop phonics expertise. Consequently, staff implement the phonics curriculum effectively, and as a result, pupils become confident readers.

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better?

The school has developed a rich curriculum, which broadens pupils’ knowledge beyond their immediate community. Pupils develop knowledge and skills that build well over time. Teachers are quick to identify those pupils who struggle with their learning. For example, in mathematics, teachers swiftly provide extra support to pupils to help them catch up. Pupils produce high-quality work in a range of subjects. However, in some subjects, assessment is not effective. It does not identify what pupils know and can do. As a result, in some subjects, pupils develop gaps in their knowledge that are not addressed. 31 October and 1 November 2023

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Children in the Reception classes get off to an exceptional start in school. The environment is calm and children are highly motivated to learn. Staff know children well. They help children to communicate effectively and to learn rich vocabulary. Activities are carefully planned to stimulate children’s interest and imagination. For example, children shine torches while listening to music to create a dance to represent a starry sky. The early years curriculum ensures that children are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

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Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve well. They receive targeted support from staff to meet their needs. Pupils with SEND work alongside their peers and learn the full curriculum.

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Pupils behave well. They are conscientious and take pride in the work they do. Pupils understand the school’s expectations and there is no lost learning time. Pupils are kind to one another. They listen respectfully to each other’s contributions in class.

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Pupils throughout the school have significant opportunities for personal development. The spirit detectives, school council and well-being ambassadors carry out their roles with pride. They also understand that they are role models for younger pupils.

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The school views pupils’ attendance very seriously. There are robust processes and systems in place to ensure that pupils attend school. As a result, levels of attendance are very high.

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Governors have a detailed understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for development. They hold school leaders to account by asking challenging questions. At the same time, governors are supportive of school leaders. Governors work with them to ensure the workload and well-being of staff is managed well. Staff are overwhelmingly positive. Early career teachers receive strong support.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 In some subjects, assessment is not effective. Assessment is not used well to identify where pupils have gaps in their knowledge. This means the curriculum does not always ensure that pupils build their knowledge effectively. The school must ensure that assessment is used effectively in all subjects. 31 October and 1 November 2023

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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.

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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). 31 October and 1 November 2023

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Date of previous inspection 20 March 2018, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 Bickleigh Down Church of England Primary School is a voluntary-aided school with a Christian character. The last section 48 inspection took place in June 2022. The outcome was excellent.  The school does not use 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

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspectors reviewed the single central record, took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils, and 31 October and 1 November 2023

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considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  The inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics, geography, art and science. For each deep dive, the inspector discussed the curriculum with teachers, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  The inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour in lessons and around the school site.  The inspectors gathered parents’ views by considering the responses to Ofsted’s online survey for parents, Ofsted Parent View, and by talking to parents before school. The inspectors also evaluated responses to Ofsted’s staff and pupil surveys.

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Inspection team

James Gentile, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Mark Lees Ofsted Inspector 31 October and 1 November 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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