St James and Ebrington Church of England Primary School, located in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, underwent an inspection on July 5-10, 2019, resulting in an overall effectiveness rating of Requires Improvement. The school has faced challenges stemming from deep-rooted community tensions related to its operation across two sites, which have hindered its progress. Weaknesses in teacher assessment have led to a mismatch between the work provided and the learning needs of pupils, slowing their progress. Additionally, there is insufficient challenge for the most able pupils, and subject leadership is still developing, lacking the drive needed to improve pupil outcomes.
Despite these challenges, the school has notable strengths. The local authority has provided strong support, including the establishment of an interim leadership team that promotes high expectations for teaching and learning. Current leaders have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses and are actively addressing areas of underachievement. However, staff absences have posed additional challenges in improving teaching quality, which remains inadequate. Children in Reception and pupils in other year groups are not achieving as well as they should, partly due to a narrowed curriculum aimed at meeting specific assessment points.
The identification of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities has been flawed, impacting their support and progress. Nevertheless, pupils express pride in their school and demonstrate good attendance and behavior, supported by strong relationships based on shared values. The newly formed governing body is committed to uniting the community to focus on the best interests of the pupils.
To improve further, the school must enhance leadership and management quality by fostering community collaboration to resolve longstanding issues. Newly introduced systems for assessing teaching quality need to be embedded, and subject leaders must positively impact pupil progress. The curriculum should be reviewed to ensure a broad and balanced learning experience, and accurate identification and support for pupils with special educational needs must be prioritized. Leaders should also ensure effective use of the new assessment system to track pupil progress.
In terms of teaching, learning, and assessment, improvements are necessary to ensure that teachers make accurate assessments based on pupils' knowledge and abilities, allowing for challenging lessons that promote progress. Lessons should be tailored to meet pupils' needs, with high expectations set for all year groups. Outcomes for children in Reception and older pupils must be improved by ensuring that more children are ready for Year 1 and that weaknesses in achievement are quickly identified and addressed.
The inspection highlighted that the leadership team has accurately identified the need for improvement in teaching quality, particularly in reading, writing, and mathematics. While some progress has been made, the quality of teaching remains inconsistent across subjects, and pupils often struggle to retain knowledge from lessons. The school must continue to refine its approach to teaching reading and ensure that all subjects are taught effectively to build pupils' understanding and knowledge.
Overall, while St James and Ebrington Church of England Primary School has made some strides in addressing its challenges, significant work remains to ensure that all pupils achieve their potential and receive a high-quality education. The commitment of leaders, staff, and the governing body will be crucial in driving the necessary improvements.
