The Curzon CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a happy and welcoming school where pupils are safe. Parents and carers value the high-quality pastoral support that the school provides for their children's well-being.

Many would recommend the school to others. As one parent, reflecting the view of many said: 'The school has a lovely family feel when you enter it'.

The school ensures that its ambitious curriculum provides purposeful opportunities and experiences which stretch pupils' thinking and deepen their knowledge.

The school ensures that the curriculum is interesting and enjoyable. External trips, such as to a space centre linked with science, enthuse pupils. Pupils achieve well and enjoy their... learning in all areas.

Pupils are sociable and confident. They are good friends to each other. Pupils understand and respond well to the school's high expectations for behaviour.

Occasional small reminders from staff ensure that pupils make good behaviour choices. Pupils understand and act on the school's values and the positive ethos of care that the school promotes. Pupils have high regard for the school's value of 'respect'.

Everyone is welcome here. The school's 'equality code' and its inclusive ethos nurtures pupils' positive attitudes. Pupils are respectful of the fact that people have a range of diverse beliefs.

Difference is celebrated and discrimination in any form is not tolerated.

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

The school's curriculum meets and exceeds in some respects, the ambition of the national curriculum. Across all subjects, the curriculum builds sequenced and connected knowledge effectively.

For instance, pupils are taught about a 'sense of place' in geography such as the location of key European countries that underpins later understanding in history for the Second World War. The curriculum places a sharp focus on developing pupils' technical vocabulary well. However, a handful of subject curriculums have not been implemented effectively.

This means that some gaps in pupils' previous knowledge and understanding have not been addressed securely. Consequently, in some subjects, pupils do not build their new knowledge on prior understanding securely enough.

Teachers use their subject expertise to introduce and explain new knowledge effectively.

They rephrase and repeat important information to help pupils secure the new ideas they are learning. Staff use effective strategies to help pupils remember important content including, for example, through using appropriate questions to probe pupils' understanding. Occasionally, teachers do not respond effectively to resolve minor errors or misconceptions in pupils' knowledge and understanding.

Reading is prioritised. The school has a well-sequenced curriculum for reading. Staff use their expert knowledge of phonics to teach different letters and sounds effectively.

The school uses its sharp focus on routine checks to ensure that reading books match the stages pupils are working at. The school provides specific interventions to help pupils catch up quickly. As a result, pupils achieve well.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well-supported to learn alongside their peers. The school identifies and meets their needs well. For instance, in mathematics, they benefit from well-designed, effective activities that support them to access the subject content more readily.

Pupils with SEND achieve well.

The early years is a nurturing environment where children are sociable, confident and curious. Staff encourage children's interests and engagement effectively.

For instance, staff skilfully extend children's playful conversations through role-play, with maps and atlases that introduce wider vocabulary and knowledge of the world. Staff encourage children to be independent and creative through their selection of cardboard to join materials to make products. Children benefit from a range of appropriate activities to support their knowledge of counting and early number.

Children are prepared well for Year 1.

Pupils' behaviour and attitudes to learning are positive. At social times of the day, pupils play happily and show appropriate safe behaviours with the arrival of wintery snow and ice.

The school has orderly routines for eating lunch. Pupils are adamant that bullying does not happen. If any friendship matters do arise, pupils have confidence in trusted adults who respond swiftly.

Pupils are proud of the awards they get that commend their positive sporting attitudes in sports competitions that they attend.

The school nurtures pupils' character development well. Pupils learn to become positive and responsible citizens.

They raise money for charity as school councillors. As mini leaders, they organise games at lunchtime. Pupils raise awareness of safe internet use in their roles as 'ivengers'.

They learn how to stay safe online. Pupils understand confidently some key aspects of life in modern Britain.

The school team is strong and supportive of each other.

Staff value the quality of professional development opportunities that they have. They appreciate leaders' support and recognition of their well-being and workload. Governors are effective.

They check on the improvements that the school is making and understand their legal responsibilities well.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Some subject curriculums are not yet fully implemented.

The curriculum ambition of what will be learned and understood in all subjects is not fully realised. This means that pupils have some gaps in their prior knowledge and do not build or deepen their understanding fully and securely. The school should embed the curriculum effectively so that pupils build on their prior understanding securely in all subjects.

• Teachers do not consistently address errors in some pupils' knowledge and understanding of the concepts taught. This means that sometimes pupils do not learn as well as they could. The school should support staff to use effective strategies to address any gaps and misconceptions consistently and so ensure that pupils' knowledge and understanding is secure in all areas.