Bournebrook CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Bournebrook CofE Primary School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.

What is it like to attend this school?

The values behind 'The Bournebrook Way' permeate all aspects of school life. Pupils know that developing these values will help them to be more successful in the future. There is a palpable sense of kindness and respect behind the interactions between pupils and staff.

Pupils enjoy going to school. They feel safe and use their 'network hand' to identify the adults they can talk to if they have any concerns. They like learning and are attentive in lessons.

When the teacher is focusing on pupils from the other year... group, pupils work well independently. They achieve well.

Social times are joyful.

Pupils of different ages play together and enjoy each other's company. They manage themselves well as they move around the school. This is because the school establishes high expectations of pupils' behaviour from Nursery onwards.

Consistent routines help pupils to know what to do and when.

Pupils value the many opportunities they have to be actively involved in school life. These include as librarians leading a book club, being school councillors and acting as 'buddies' for younger pupils.

Many make the most of the interesting range of clubs on offer, including cheerleading, 'glow in the dark dodgeball' and choir.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has made improvements to the curriculum since the previous inspection. Its design enables pupils to learn key knowledge and develop skills to an age-appropriate level within their mixed-age classes.

The curriculum is enriched through cultural trips and visitors. These recently included an author visit and a trip to a fort when studying the Romans in history. Within the curriculum, there is a high focus on the development of spoken language and learning new vocabulary from the early years onwards.

Pupils generally achieve well in the end of key stage 2 tests and leave the school with the secure foundations they need for success as they move into secondary education.

The curriculum is typically implemented well. Staff manage the different starting points of their mixed-age classes well.

They help the older pupils in their class to build on their previous learning. Teachers' subject knowledge is strong, helped by useful curriculum resources and the professional development they receive. This means teachers provide clear explanations to pupils, especially when modelling processes and thinking.

However, there are some aspects that are not of a consistently high standard. For example, the ways that staff check pupils have understood their learning 'in the moment' vary in effectiveness. Staff do not always offer the precise support a pupil needs when struggling with their learning.

On occasions, the feedback that pupils receive does not help them to understand how they can improve.Pupils learn that 'reading is magic'. The school fosters a love of reading from when children start in Nursery.

Pupils are surrounded by books and enjoy spending time in the library and reading café. The school's chosen phonics scheme is delivered well. There is a focus on ensuring that all pupils are able to read at an age-appropriate level.

Any pupils who need support with phonics or reading fluency are promptly identified and receive timely, effective intervention.

The school is rightly proud of its inclusive, values-driven ethos. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs identified carefully and staff are provided with clear strategies to support their learning and development.

There is a range of additional support in place for some of these pupils, including the 'maple' provision, which helps them to achieve well. The school's work to support pupils with managing their behaviour is very strong. The restorative approach taken when pupils make the wrong choice helps them to do better next time.

Almost all pupils attend well and make the most of all that the school offers. Overall attendance is in line with national averages. When needed, the school works closely with pupils and their families to improve attendance and to help pupils miss less learning.

Pupils' character development is a strength of the school. 'The Bournebrook Way', assemblies and personal, social and health education lessons are interwoven thoughtfully. This means pupils acquire a deep understanding of themselves and their role within the wider world.

Combined with the school's focus on language and vocabulary, pupils are enabled to be confident and articulate young people with high aspirations for their future.

Staff know that the school cares about their workload and well-being too. Leaders and governors work with an unswerving focus on improving the quality of education pupils receive at Bournebrook.

This is a school that cares for all.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• There is some inconsistency in how well staff check that pupils have understood their learning and are able to apply the key skills that have been identified within the intended curriculum.

Sometimes gaps in learning or misconceptions are not addressed promptly enough. Sometimes the feedback given does not help pupils to improve their work or deepen their understanding. The school should ensure that staff are confident in checking how well pupils have learned the key knowledge and are able to apply the important subject skills at the intended age-appropriate level.

Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted's website. From September 2024, graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade.

This school was, before September 2024, judged to be good for its overall effectiveness.

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school's work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good for overall effectiveness in November 2019.