Priory Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Priory Primary School continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

Care and respect are at the heart of Priory Primary School. Pupils say that teachers really care for them and listen to any concerns they have. Bullying is rare and dealt with swiftly.

Pupils help each other in lessons and around school. Pupils show respect and kindness to others. Pupils value the differences that make them unique and talk with passion and understanding about how they accept others.

The staff have high expectations of pupils. They aim for all pupils to achieve well from their starting points.

The pupil-led 'Junior leadership team' takes an active role in th...e school.

They work to make the school a better place. Junior leaders hold discussions with their class and take pupils' ideas to the school's senior leadership team. Junior leaders are currently working towards reducing the impact the school has on the environment.

Pupils are proud to learn about their community and the place they live through the 'Hull curriculum'. Pupils learn about significant figures from Hull and the impact they have today. For example, some pupils who spoke with the inspector explained how Mary Murdoch helped women in Hull to get the vote and become educated.

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

Leaders have made reading a top priority for the school. Teachers throughout the school read to pupils at the end of each day. In Nursery, staff focus on developing children's vocabulary and their interest in books and stories.

Staff begin to teach pupils to read from the start of the Reception year. The school's chosen phonics programme is well implemented and helps pupils to read fluently and with confidence. There is rigour and consistency in the way that reading is taught.

Leaders make sure that pupils who find reading difficult get support. Extra reading sessions help these children to keep up with the expectations of the school's reading curriculum.

Leaders ensure that for most subjects, pupils build knowledge and skills over time.

For example, in mathematics, pupils in Year 5 were seen using their knowledge of place value to help them to add and subtract decimals and money. Teachers find fun ways to help pupils practise skills and recall what they have learned before. This regular revisiting of subject content helps pupils to know and remember more.

In some subjects in the wider curriculum, such as history, the curriculum content that leaders want pupils to learn and remember is not as clearly defined. Some pupils do not have a secure understanding of what they have been taught previously. This makes it difficult for pupils to build on their prior learning.

Subject leaders have begun to refine the curriculum in these subjects to help pupils to know and remember more.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are fully involved in the life of the school. Teachers support pupils with SEND well.

The special educational needs coordinators work with staff to identify the best ways to support pupils with SEND. This ensures that pupils get the help they need. Parents spoke highly of the support the school gives to pupils with SEND.

Assessment is used well. Teachers check pupils' knowledge and correct misconceptions straight away. Teachers have identified gaps in pupils' knowledge that have come about because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leaders have carefully adapted the curriculum in response to help pupils catch up.

The personal development of pupils is at the heart of the school's curriculum. Pupils learn about people's rights and responsibilities in society.

Pupils demonstrate understanding and empathy when discussing the different protected characteristics. Staff teach pupils about career choices and encourage them to think about their future. The school runs many different clubs, including judo and opportunities to learn to play a musical instrument.

Participation in these clubs is high. Pupils have the opportunity to represent the school in different sports and competitions. Pupils said that the trips and visits they take part in help them with their learning.

Parents and carers are typically positive about the school. Parents are invited to attend regular curriculum workshops and have access to videos recorded by staff. This helps them to understand the curriculum and support their children at home.

Parents were pleased with the curriculum and support offered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leaders are mindful of staff's workload. They provide well-being check-ins regularly so that staff can talk over any concerns.

Governors and the trust provide regular challenge to leaders. Together, they make sure that the school does not rest on its laurels.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff receive regular training to ensure that they are kept up to date with safeguarding policies and procedures. Staff are vigilant. They know what to do if they have concerns about a pupil's safety.

Leaders keep detailed and appropriate records on how they follow up on any safeguarding concerns. Pupils' welfare is central to leaders' decision-making. Leaders are not afraid to challenge the decisions of other agencies.

Pupils learn how to manage the risks they might face, including when working online. Pupils understand the importance of developing and maintaining healthy relationships with their peers.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a small number of subjects, leaders have not clearly defined the subject content that pupils should know.

As a result, some pupils do not achieve as well as they could in these subjects. Subject leaders should define how the knowledge and skills in their subject build over time so that teachers have a better understanding of how to build on pupils' prior knowledge.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good.

This is called a section 8 inspection of a good or outstanding school, because it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on a section 8 inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a section 5 inspection.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the section 8 inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the section 8 inspection as a section 5 inspection immediately.

This is the first section 8 inspection since we judged the school to be good in October 2016.

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