Holywell Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils love coming to school because they feel safe and happy. They know the staff will care for them and help them learn. Staff model the kindness and respect they expect the pupils to show.

Pupils respond by being kind, caring and wonderfully inclusive of each other. They show the utmost respect towards each other and adults. Their behaviour is exemplary.

Relationships between staff and pupils are very positive. One parent, reflecting the views of many said: 'The school is a wonderful community of support, filled with staff who have real acceptance, compassion and care.'

The school has high expectations of all pupils.

The staff are passionate that... the school's values drive everything they do. Their determination to ensure that pupils develop a life-long love of learning is evident throughout the school. Pupils are supported to become confident and resilient learners.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported by expert staff who carefully include them in the school community. Pupils are encouraged to make the most of the personal development opportunities available to them. They enjoy the many activities, clubs and events that help to develop their interests and talents.

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

The school provides pupils with a rich variety of experiences through a 'cultural capital journey' for each year group. Pupils discuss and debate important issues with great skill, and have won debating competitions. They work on charitable projects and contribute strongly to both the school and local communities.

All of this carefully planned activity develops wonderfully well-rounded pupils who are very well equipped for their next steps in education. The school's values of inclusion and respect are owned and practised by all pupils. They benefit from carefully planned lessons and discussions about different faiths, beliefs and cultures.

These experiences prepare pupils well for life in modern Britain.

Pupils carefully follow the school's simple and effective rules. They look after each other well.

They are extremely polite and go 'above and beyond' to welcome visitors and those who are new to the school.

The school is ambitious for all pupils. Staff know individual pupils well.

They are quick to identify any pupils who may be struggling. The school has effective systems in place to identify and assess pupils with SEND. Staff receive effective support and regular training to ensure that they can meet the needs of all pupils and help pupils access the full curriculum.

There is a secure and ambitious curriculum in place for most subjects. In the subjects that are well developed, there is careful thought given to what important knowledge and skills pupils need to learn and when. For example, in computing, pupils develop their understanding of programming through regular practice and apply previously learned knowledge to complete more complicated tasks.

However, in some subjects, pupils are not always given work that helps them develop the important knowledge they need to achieve the ambitious aims of the curriculum. In these subjects, pupils do not always remember the main thing that they should have learned. Children in the early years are well cared for and nurtured as they develop new learning skills.

However, at times, activities do not always help children develop the skills and knowledge as teachers intend.

Teachers recap previous learning at the start of lessons and use questions to check that pupils understand what they are learning. This helps teachers to identify what pupils know and what they still need to learn.

Teachers use their good subject knowledge to present information clearly and engage pupils in interesting learning activities. Pupils work hard, with increasing independence, to complete the tasks teachers give them. As a result, in most subjects, pupils are remembering more and growing in confidence as learners.

Reading is a priority. Younger pupils have daily phonics lessons taught by well-trained staff. This helps pupils to become accurate and fluent readers quickly.

The school promotes a love of reading. Pupils read regularly and enthusiastically with support from volunteers, 'mystery readers' and from each other as older pupils read with younger ones.

The school is very well led.

All staff are passionate about continually improving the school. Governors understand their role and carry out their duties effectively. Staff say that they feel valued and cared for and that their workload is carefully considered throughout the year.

They are happy and proud to work at the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, and in the early years provision, the ambitious intent of the curriculum is not always matched by purposeful learning opportunities that fully develop the intended knowledge and skills the school has identified.

Pupils do not always develop and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in these areas. Pupils do not always remember the main thing that they should have learned. The school needs to ensure that in the early years provision, and in all subjects, pupils are provided with clear and ambitious learning activities that help them develop the precisely identified knowledge and skills they need to be successful in these curriculums.

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