Sutton Bonington Primary School underwent a short inspection on 21 May 2019, following its previous inspection in January 2016, where it was rated as good. The leadership team has successfully maintained the quality of education during this period, despite significant staff changes, including the appointment of a new headteacher and two assistant headteachers. The governing body and leaders have focused on managing these changes while also addressing other identified priorities. They are working on establishing systems to hold staff accountable while considering their workload, improving communication with parents, and ensuring consistency in pupil progress and attainment.
The current school improvement plan is well-defined, with clear success criteria. Leaders have implemented a robust performance management process for staff, which includes regular meetings to discuss pupil progress, particularly for disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs. While leaders provide detailed information to the governing body about various aspects of the school, there is a need for sharper analysis of pupil progress to enhance accountability.
The inspection highlighted that while there have been improvements in writing since the last inspection, inconsistencies remain in the quality of work across different subjects. Teachers do not always maintain high expectations for pupils' work, and there is room for improvement in helping pupils enhance their writing skills. The leadership team has also prioritized improving behavior standards, which has resulted in well-behaved, friendly, and polite pupils. The new behavior policy, developed with parental input, is well understood by students, promoting responsibility and positive decision-making.
Parents have expressed positive feedback regarding the school's family ethos, friendly staff, and recent improvements in communication and involvement. The majority of parents feel their children are happy, well-taught, and making good progress. Safeguarding measures are effective, with a secure culture in place. Staff are kept updated on safeguarding guidelines, and timely actions are taken when concerns arise. Pupils report feeling safe and are educated on how to keep themselves safe, including online safety.
Teaching quality is strong, with most pupils making good progress. Observations revealed that teachers possess good subject knowledge and plan engaging lessons. However, there is inconsistency in lesson planning and the application of writing skills across subjects. Pupils learn about various religions, but their understanding of some is not as developed as it should be, and there is a need for a better promotion of British values.
Leaders are actively working to improve standards in mathematics, utilizing effective teaching strategies. The school website is being updated to meet publishing requirements. The next steps for the school include enhancing the monitoring of pupil progress, ensuring consistent teaching practices in writing, and improving the curriculum to promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development. Overall, the school continues to demonstrate a commitment to improvement and maintaining a good standard of education for its pupils.
