Gretton Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school is coming out of an unsettled time. There have been many changes to staffing, including a new leadership team and headteacher.

The new leadership has a determined and ambitious vision.

The school's vision to 'aim high' encapsulates the ethos of the school well. However, while pupils learn effectively in core subjects, they do not learn as successfully in the wider curriculum.

The school has high expectations for all pupils. As a result, pupils' behaviour has improved. Their conduct reflects the school's values well.

Pupils enjoy the rewards they receive in Friday celebration assemblies, such as the 'Gold Book' awards. These help to inspire... and motivate pupils.

Pupils enjoy school.

They value the friendly environment within this small village school. They know that there are adults and children who look out for them. As a result, pupils feel safe.

Pupils enjoy taking on leadership roles such as the school council and happiness heroes. School councillors are proud to have a say in how to improve the school. Older pupils relish being able to help younger children through the school's 'Big Friends, Little Friends' scheme.

This gives them a sense of responsibility.

Pupils enjoy attending a wide range of after-school clubs. These include football, multi-sports, mindfulness and the 'books and biscuits' club.

These help pupils to develop their talents and interests.

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

The school knows what it needs to do to bring about improvement. It has prioritised improvement to the core curriculum where pupils' learning is more successful.

It has made a positive start to updating the wider curriculum. However, many changes are in their early stages and have yet to have an impact. Nonetheless, the school is making some headway.

The core curriculum is ambitious. The school identifies the knowledge it wants pupils to know and remember. The core curriculum is well sequenced to help pupils build their knowledge over time.

For example, in mathematics, teaching introduces new concepts clearly to help pupils understand what they are learning and why. Pupils use appropriate mathematical vocabulary to explain their reasoning.

In the wider curriculum, curriculum development is more recent and the new curriculums are in their infancy.

Some staff do not have the subject knowledge they need. This means learning activities do not help pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to learn the curriculum well enough. As a result, pupils do not develop a secure understanding.

The school has begun to provide training so that staff develop the expertise to teach the curriculum effectively.

There is a well-sequenced phonics curriculum. Most pupils read books that match the sounds that they know.

The school provides extra support to help pupils to catch up in phonics. However, the teaching of phonics is not consistent. Some staff do not yet use the school's agreed strategies to support pupils with learning to read.

This means that some pupils do not learn to read the phonics code as quickly as they could.

The school is keen for pupils to develop a love of reading. This starts in the early years where children enjoy listening to stories.

The school has identified a range of high-quality books to support pupils to read a broad range of literature.

Children get off to a good start in Reception. Children enjoy learning.

They quickly learn the rules and routines. Children begin to develop a sense of right and wrong and learn how to recognise and manage their feelings.

Teachers check what pupils know and remember in the core subjects.

However, assessment is in its early stages of development in the wider curriculum. In these subjects, teaching does not check with precision what pupils know and can do. This means that teaching does not always address pupils' misconceptions or where there are gaps in their learning.

The school ensures that learning extends beyond the academic. Pupils learn how to keep themselves physically and mentally healthy. They enjoy experiences such as 'comfy reading' that provide time for them to be calm and to reflect.

Pupils learn how to treat one another with kindness. They listen to others and show respect for one another. Pupils are polite and well mannered.

They are keen to learn and to do well. They know it is important to keep trying when learning is tricky.

Trustees, some of whom are new, are knowledgeable about some aspects of the school.

They are improving their systems for checking the impact of the school's actions on the quality of education and holding the school to account. Trustees have steered the school through a period of change.

Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school.

Parents and teachers comment positively about the recent changes and improvements. Teachers value the support and consideration they receive for their workload and well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Staff do not always deliver the phonics curriculum effectively. As a result, some pupils do not learn the phonics code as rapidly as they could. The school should ensure that all teachers have the necessary skills to support pupils in their phonics learning.

• In some subjects in the wider curriculum, staff do not have sufficient subject knowledge and understanding of curriculum development. Learning activities do not enable pupils to learn new knowledge effectively. Consequently, pupils do not build a secure understanding.

The school must ensure staff have the training they need to support all pupils to learn effectively across the curriculum. ? As many subject leaders are new in their role and many systems are recent, the school has not yet checked that the curriculum is implemented as intended. As a result, the wider curriculum does not have the impact leaders intend.

For example, assessment is not effective in the wider curriculum. As a result, pupils do not build their learning well over time. The school must strengthen subject leadership and the use of assessment so that pupils know and remember more in the longer term.