Withycombe Raleigh Church of England Primary School is a larger-than-average primary school located in Exmouth, Devon. The school has a positive and vibrant atmosphere, where pupils feel proud and eager to learn. The overall effectiveness of the school is rated as good, reflecting the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision, all of which are also rated as good. The school has maintained this level of performance since its last inspection.
Pupils demonstrate a strong commitment to their education, with most attending regularly and showing positive attitudes towards their learning. The school has established clear expectations for behaviour, which most pupils understand and follow, contributing to a calm and orderly environment. Social interactions among pupils are generally positive, and the school employs a reward system to encourage good behaviour.
The school places a strong emphasis on personal development, offering a variety of opportunities for pupils to extend their learning beyond the academic curriculum. Initiatives such as the Withycombe 60 things to achieve before leaving school program encourage pupils to engage with their local environment, including visits to the nearby beach for lessons on safety. A wide range of extracurricular activities, including clubs for Lego, choir, maypole dancing, cross country, and aquathon, further enriches the pupils' educational experience.
Since the last inspection, school leaders have made significant improvements to the curriculum, ensuring it is coherent and well-sequenced. While some subjects are still in the early stages of implementation, the focus on staff training has already shown positive results, with pupils confidently discussing their learning. In subjects with a well-established curriculum, such as mathematics, pupils effectively connect new knowledge with prior learning.
The school has also made strides in developing assessment practices across the wider curriculum, identifying key knowledge that pupils need to retain. However, this work is still in its infancy, and assessment methods are not yet fully effective in all subjects, leading to some gaps in pupils' knowledge.
Reading has been prioritized, with phonics instruction beginning in the Reception Year. The school has ensured consistency in phonics teaching through targeted training, enabling pupils to read books that align with their phonetic knowledge. This approach has led to improvements in reading accuracy and fluency, with additional support provided for those who fall behind.
The school has enhanced its systems for identifying and supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Most support plans are now detailed and focused on specific targets. However, there are instances where adaptations to the curriculum for these pupils are not effective, leading to reliance on additional adult support.
The school's values promote kindness, respect, and inclusivity, fostering an environment where diversity and equality are celebrated. Staff feel supported by leadership regarding their workload and well-being, and parents generally express positive views about the care and support their children receive.
The safeguarding arrangements at the school are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils. To improve further, the school must ensure that the implementation of the curriculum is consistently strong and that assessment systems are effectively embedded. Additionally, staff training should continue to enhance support for pupils with special educational needs, ensuring they can fully engage with the curriculum. Overall, Withycombe Raleigh Primary School provides a supportive and enriching educational experience for its pupils.
