Powell’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils excel at this school.

They thrive on the ambition that all adults have for them.There are no barriers for pupils to achieve well, regardless of their starting points. Everyone is proud to belong to this school.

Pupils speak highly of their experiences across and beyond the curriculum. This is because the school consistently promotes the extensive personal development of pupils. Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit greatly from these inclusive experiences.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. In Reception, children are extremely motivated and eager to join in. They sustain interest well across all ...curriculum areas.

This is because learning promotes curiosity, exploration and creativity. They share and collaborate well. These positive attitudes to one another and their learning are visible across the school.

This is a caring school. Pupils make a significant contribution to one another's well-being. By acting as peer mediators, 'well-being wonders' and play leaders they help to support pupils of all ages.

They carry out their roles responsibly and sensitively.

Pupils enjoy an exceptional range of clubs and enrichment activities. These are popular with pupils.

There is something for everyone. As a result, pupils benefit hugely from new and interesting experiences.

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

At the heart of the school's success is a shared vision of high-quality education for all.

Everyone is clear that they contribute to pupils' academic and personal development. All aspects of the school's work reflect the vision. The school focuses continually on developing the subject and pedagogical expertise of its staff.

Consequently, staff feel highly valued.

From Reception onwards, the curriculum provides pupils with new experiences to learn from. There are no barriers to pupils' achievement, regardless of background or need.

The school has identified five curriculum drivers that provide golden threads throughout learning. These link the content, enrichment and wider opportunities back to the shared vision. From the time children start school in Reception, reading is at the centre of the curriculum.

Pupils read a variety of books to spark interest and extend knowledge across all subjects. They love to read and enjoy talking about the books they have read individually and as a class.

The teaching of phonics is highly effective.

Pupils, including children in Reception, show exceptional levels of accuracy in their word reading and spelling. Pupils who need help get highly effective support to keep up. This, along with regular, accurate assessment, means that the majority of pupils are at least where they should be in the programme.

Many are working beyond this.

The school has designed the wider curriculum with precision. It has identified key knowledge, concepts and vocabulary in each subject.

Small steps of knowledge enable pupils to progress through the curriculum and succeed. The school has carefully identified content. This enables pupils to link knowledge from different subjects.

For example, the school has recently refined the fieldwork and map skills strand in geography. This requires pupils to apply knowledge from science and mathematics. Pupils do this with increasing sophistication as they move through the school.

Published outcomes are significantly above the national average in a range of measures. Leaders analyse this information well to help them modify the curriculum where needed. Teachers and subject leaders evaluate the impact of the curriculum on pupils' knowledge very well.

Within the early years provision, for example, this means that children consolidate understanding, practise and extend learning very well. Pupils in key stage 2 demonstrate their cumulative knowledge at the end of units through writing essays. They enjoy this meaningful way of communicating what they have learned.

Pupils are proud of their work. They work hard and enjoy success. Pupils show equal pride in the wider curriculum as in the core subjects.

Work is of a high quality across the curriculum. In every year group, pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education and beyond. 'Aspirations week' gives all pupils a meaningful experience of future success.

Pupils develop an early understanding of how their education gives them the knowledge and skills for a range of different careers.

Staff benefit from external training and development opportunities. Many of them also work beyond the school, supporting other schools and the work of wider local education.

This demonstrates the impressive expertise that staff have. This ensures an exceptional education for all pupils.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.