South Stoke is a good school. Good at its last inspection, it has improved markedly in many areas of its work.

 

 

This is acknowledged overwhelmingly by parents and carers, who are very supportive of the school. As one parent commented, 'This is a fantastic school ' there's a family atmosphere yet it takes education very seriously.'

 

 

Pupils, too, speak effusively about the stimulating learning environment that enables them to flourish and do their very best. school's success. Pupils say they feel extremely safe and there is always a trusted and respected adult they can go to with problems. This is because teachers know each child individually and understand their learning needs very well. As one pupil commented, 'We really get to know our teachers and you can share your worries with them. They always have time for you.' As a consequence, the teachers' detailed knowledge of each child's performance enables them to track and support their academic and personal progress accurately so they all achieve well. Teachers have high expectations of how much pupils can achieve, and work is well matched to their needs. However, there are missed opportunities to exploit pupils' abilities, especially those of higher attainers, to explore and test their own ideas by designing their own experiments in science, and so sustain their rapid progress. Children get off to a good start in the Early Years Foundation Stage. As they move through the school pupils make good progress and their attainment is now above average by the time they leave. These improvements have been driven by the effective leadership of the headteacher, well supported by teachers and governors. Leaders have a clear and accurate view of the school's strengths and have acted effectively to tackle weaknesses. This has ensured the continuing improvement in pupils' attainment, achievement and enjoyment since the last inspection and confirms the school's good capacity to continue improving.

 

 

Outstanding levels of care and support lie at the heart of this school's success. Pupils say they feel extremely safe and there is always a trusted and respected adult they can go to with problems. This is because teachers know each child individually and understand their learning needs very well. As one pupil commented, 'We really get to know our teachers and you can share your worries with them. They always have time for you.' As a consequence, the teachers' detailed knowledge of each child's performance enables them to track and support their academic and personal progress accurately so they all achieve well. Teachers have high expectations of how much pupils can achieve, and work is well matched to their needs. However, there are missed opportunities to exploit pupils' abilities, especially those of higher attainers, to explore and test their own ideas by designing their own experiments in science, and so sustain their rapid progress.

 

 

Our June 2013 Ofsted report can be found at:

file:///C:/Users/teacher/Downloads/123039__1.PDF 

 

 

Further Performance Tables can be found at:

http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=123039