Rode Heath Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are extremely happy in school. They never want to miss a day. This contributes to their high rates of attendance.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary in lessons and at playtimes. They strive to live up to the school's values of fairness, resilience, teamwork and curiosity. Pupils said that they have a strong voice in school and that they use this to stand up for what is right.

Pupils, and their parents and carers, said that they feel proud and fortunate to be a part of this welcoming school. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), seize every opportunity to learn something new. For example, they relish taking part in the wi...de variety of after-school clubs on offer, such as yoga, coding, choir and engineering.

Pupils, including those with SEND, achieve exceptionally well. They more than rise to the school's high expectations of their academic achievement. Pupils have a real thirst to learn more each and every day.

Pupils leave the school at the end of Year 6 as knowledgeable and thoughtful individuals. They are extremely well prepared for the demands of secondary school.

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

The school has carefully constructed a highly ambitious curriculum.

The curriculum clearly defines the knowledge that pupils should know and remember from the Nursery Year to the end of Year 6. It enables pupils to flourish. Pupils develop a deep and rich body of knowledge across a broad range of subjects.

Highly trained staff deliver the curriculum with expertise and enthusiasm. They skilfully design learning activities that help pupils to make strong connections between new learning and what they know already. Pupils develop detailed knowledge of sophisticated concepts.

For instance, pupils' recent writing about the Windrush generation is both powerful and thought-provoking.

Staff have secure subject knowledge. They skilfully check that pupils have retained key concepts in their long-term memory before delivering any new learning.

Pupils discussed their learning with great confidence and a maturity beyond their years.

Children in the early years receive the best possible start to their education. The exceedingly well-ordered early years' curriculum sets out the specific knowledge that children must learn.

Highly trained staff deliver the curriculum with skill. They interact exceptionally well with children. For example, staff question, support and draw out the specific learning that children must know and remember.

Children show remarkable levels of concentration and perseverance in the activities that are designed for them. This prepares children very well for Year 1 and beyond.

The school has high expectations for pupils with SEND.

Pupils' additional needs are quickly and accurately identified. Staff adapt the delivery of the curriculum exceptionally well so that pupils with SEND can learn alongside their peers. Pupils with SEND progress well through the curriculum and they participate fully in school life.

Reading is central to the curriculum. It is threaded through every subject. Pupils' love of reading shines through.

Many pupils talked about how reading opens doors and new worlds to them. Older pupils discussed with delight the many authors who they like and the different types of books that they enjoy reading. Pupils talked about how they are inspired by these authors and use their ideas and vocabulary to strong effect in their own writing.

In the Nursery class, children enjoy listening to different rhymes and songs. The school ensures that staff deliver the phonics programme with fidelity. Staff make sure that the books that pupils read are carefully matched to the sounds that they know.

Highly trained staff provide pupils with extra support if they need it. This helps these pupils to catch up quickly with their reading. Consequently, many pupils read fluently and accurately by the end of Year 2.

Pupils' behaviour is exceptional. They learn without distraction. They are highly respectful towards staff, pupils and visitors.

The programme to promote pupils' personal development has been carefully constructed. Pupils take on leadership roles, such as acting as school councillors and eco-council members. They plan and deliver assemblies on topics such as protecting the world's oceans or keeping pupils safe.

This rich offer provides the knowledge and skills that pupils need to become successful and active citizens of modern-day Britain.

Governors understand and fulfil their statutory duties with diligence. They provide highly effective challenge and support to the school to continually improve the quality of education that pupils receive.

Staff know that their workload and well-being are considered when any decision is made. They are highly appreciative of the support that they receive to enable them to carry out their roles effectively.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.