The pupils come from a range of social and economic backgrounds and almost all are from White British families. Their attainment on entry to school is broadly at the level expected for four-year-olds. However, this can vary significantly from year to year, as can the proportion of pupils with learning difficulties, which is also average overall. The school has received a number of awards including the 'Activemark', 'Healthy School Award' and 'International School Award' Key for inspection grades Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Outstanding Good Satisfactory Inadequate Inspection Report: Sutton Veny CofE School, 12 July 2007 4 of 11 Overall effectiveness of the school Grade: 1 This is an outstanding school because it successfully combines high academic standards with a full and exciting curriculum and an intense concern for the personal development and well-being of every pupil. Pupils thoroughly enjoy coming to school and their outstanding personal development is reflected in the pride and maturity which they display when talking about their school. Parents, who play an important role in the daily life of the school, are highly appreciative of what the school has to offer. Many share the view of one parent that, 'This is a gem of a school to have on our doorstep'. Good teaching and interesting activities ensure that pupils in the Foundation Stage make good progress. Most meet or exceed the levels expected for their age in all areas of learning by the start of Year 1. This good progress continues in Years 1 and 2 and accelerates in Years 3 to 6 so that pupils reach standards that are well above average by the end of Year 6, representing outstanding achievement. Standards in science are improving but have not quite caught up with those in English and mathematics. The school is trialling a new system for assessing science to ensure that pupils in every year group make as much progress as possible and that this year's very good Year 6 test results are sustained. The quality of teaching is outstanding, accounting for the exemplary progress made by the pupils. In every class, pupils are engrossed in their learning and there is an atmosphere of calm, purposeful endeavour. The work of teaching assistants, known as teaching partners, is a strength of the school, with the result that pupils with learning difficulties make as much progress as other pupils relative to their starting points. The curriculum is outstanding because it facilitates the school's desire to achieve high standards in the basic skills of literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology (ICT) whilst providing rich experiences in all the other subjects of the curriculum. The school's very good use of the local and wider environment, international links and long-established ANZAC connections are examples of many experiences which enrich the pupils' learning and enjoyment in, and out of, school. The care, support and guidance provided for pupils are outstanding. A very high level of pastoral care is matched by effective academic guidance. Pupils have a good understanding of their achievements and what they have to do to improve further. Pupils speak warmly about the adults in school, saying that they feel safe and secure because if a problem does occur, it is quickly sorted out. The school's success is due, in large part, to the excellent, inspirational leadership of the headteacher supported by her deputy and assistant head, and the close teamwork of every adult in the school. As one subject leader said, 'I love leading my subject here because everyone is so co-operative and supportive'. The school has very clear, effective systems to monitor progress so that any pupil in danger of falling behind is quickly provided with appropriate support. The school is continually checking its performance to maintain its high standards and to see if there is a better way of doing things, ensuring that its capacity to improve even further is outstanding.