Harewood Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have created an inclusive atmosphere where all pupils feel welcome. The school provides a strong sense of community for pupils from across its wide catchment area.

Pupils are well cared for and nurtured to enable them to achieve their full potential. They achieve well, particularly in reading and mathematics.

Pupils are proud to be members of the school community and feel happy and safe.

From the early years, it is clear to pupils that there are high expectations for behaviour. Most pupils treat others with respect. Bullying is rare in this school.

If it does happen, staff deal with it quickly.

There are a wide range of opportunities... for pupils to develop their talents and interests. Pupils research and choose charities they would like to support.

They support the local community through, for example, donating to the local food bank. A high proportion of pupils take up the offer of individual music tuition, either to learn an instrument or to improve their singing. Pupils enjoy taking part in the small number of after-school clubs.

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

Pupils benefit from a strong curriculum in reading and mathematics. However, the wider curriculum is not as consistently well developed. In some areas of the curriculum, leaders have not identified the key knowledge that pupils need to learn.

Subject leaders are being supported to ensure that all curriculum subjects are equally well planned.

The curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of the children in the early years. Leaders have thought about how the early years lays the foundations for what children will learn in Year 1 and beyond.

Leaders have prioritised the teaching of phonics and early mathematics. Children are happy and settled. They play cooperatively with each other and are polite and well mannered.

Teaching pupils to read is a real strength of the school. As a result, pupils achieve well. A new phonics programme has been introduced and this is being delivered effectively by teachers.

Pupils' reading books are carefully matched to the sounds they know. Pupils read with enthusiasm. Leaders successfully encourage parents to support early reading by hearing their children read at home.

Teachers present subject matter clearly to pupils and use well-chosen resources to support learning. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are identified quickly. They are supported to access the curriculum in line with their peers.

There is a culture of high aspiration for these pupils. In some subjects, such as mathematics, teachers are good at checking what pupils know and remember. This means that gaps in knowledge are swiftly identified and addressed.

In some foundation subjects, assessment systems are not as securely in place. This makes it difficult for teachers to know how pupils' knowledge is building over time.There are clear expectations for pupils' behaviour, and most pupils meet these expectations consistently.

Children in the early years listen to and follow instructions given by adults. Pupils say that bullying sometimes happens in the school. However, pupils know that they can go to any of the adults in school if they have any concerns or worries.

Pupils' attitudes to learning are positive. They are enthusiastic in lessons and take pride in their work.

The provision for pupils' personal development is wide-ranging.

Leaders provide pupils with a range of experiences and opportunities. A well-chosen programme for personal, social and health education (PSHE) and relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education supports pupils to learn how to lead safe and healthy lives. There are many opportunities for pupils to lead in different aspects of school life.

Pupils can join the school council or eco-committee or become reading or MindMate ambassadors. Pupils demonstrate an impressive knowledge of fundamental British values. They are aware of different faiths such as Sikhism, Judaism and Islam and can talk about some of the key aspects of these faiths.

Pupils' achievements are regularly celebrated in assemblies. Older pupils are positive role models for younger pupils.

Leaders have an accurate view of the strengths and weaknesses of the school.

Governors know the school well and play an active part in school life. As well as being supportive, they also offer challenge to leaders.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders ensure that all staff are trained in safeguarding. Staff know the pupils as individuals which means they can quickly spot any causes for concern. There are effective systems in place for reporting concerns.

Leaders support pupils and their families appropriately. They involve outside agencies when necessary.

There is a culture of vigilance among staff.

This also exists among pupils. For example, older pupils will let teachers know if they have concerns about younger pupils. Teachers ensure that pupils learn about the risks they may face, both online and offline.

Recruitment processes ensure that the right checks are made on those who want to work at the school.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Curriculum plans in some foundation subjects are not fully developed. They do not outline the precise knowledge and skills that pupils need to learn.

This means pupils' knowledge in these subjects does not build over time. Leaders should map out the knowledge they want pupils to learn with greater clarity. This will enable pupils to learn well across the curriculum.

• Assessment systems are not securely in place to check what pupils have learned in some foundation subjects. This means teachers do not have a clear understanding of the knowledge and skills pupils are retaining over time. Leaders should establish more effective ways to assure themselves that pupils are acquiring the intended knowledge and skills from the taught curriculum.