Walmore Hill Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Willmore Hill Primary is a school where the ethos of 'All different, All equal' shines through.

Warm and nurturing relationships exist between staff and pupils. As a result, pupils are happy and safe.The school has high expectations for its pupils.

It is an improving school. Staff want pupils to do well, and pupils are keen to learn. Executive Leaders have brought about positive change.

Expectations of pupils are now much higher than before. However, some improvements are in their infancy. They still need time to fully embed.

Pupils' behaviour in school is impressive. They demonstrate high levels of respect and kindness towards one another. Pupils ar...e polite and well mannered.

They enact the school's core values, such as resilience.

The provision for pupils' wider development is well considered. Pupils enjoy the opportunities on offer, including music and sports.

These activities develop pupils' interests and talents.

The school provides high-quality pastoral support to pupils and their families. It teaches pupils how to stay safe, healthy and keep active.

Pupils talk openly about differences and how it is important to celebrate diversity.

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

The school has been through significant change since the previous inspection. However, the school is on an upward trajectory of improvement.

Senior leaders provide a clear sense of direction. They are working determinedly to bring about sustainable changes in a considered way. This means that some aspects are further developed than others.

The school has an ambitious curriculum in place. However, it is aware that further developments to the curriculum are required to ensure that all pupils, including children in the early years, receive a good quality of education. In some subjects, the curriculum is not implemented securely to enable pupils to gain the knowledge they need to achieve well.

For example, checks on what knowledge pupils remember are not secure across all subjects. This means the school is not always clear about what pupils know and remember. The school is taking decisive action, and there is evidence of significant improvement since the previous inspection, for example, in reading.

Behaviour is impressive. Pupils, including children in the early years, very quickly learn the 'Walmore Hill Way,' which sets out the school's high expectations of behaviour and conduct. Due to the unique character of the school's cohort, published attendance data does not reflect the school's successful work and strong relationships with the community that support pupils to attend well.

Staff are quick to identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school works closely with other agencies to ensure that the appropriate checks are undertaken and support is put in place. However, the school does not adapt work sufficiently well to meet the needs of some pupils with SEND.

As a result, these pupils struggle to learn new concepts.

As soon as children start in the early years, they learn how to socialise and work independently. They start to build their early reading, writing and mathematical knowledge.

For example, children could use mathematical vocabulary to describe a circle. However, planned learning does not ensure that children always gain the knowledge they need for the demands of the Year 1 curriculum.

The school is ambitious for pupils to develop a love of books and become fluent readers.

Children begin their reading journey from the moment they start in the early years. Staff are skilled in the teaching of phonics and early reading. They carefully select books to ensure that they precisely match pupils' phonic knowledge.

As a result, most pupils develop into confident readers. Where pupils struggle with their reading, timely interventions are in place to enable them to catch up. Story time is a firm favourite with pupils.

They enjoy a range of authors and texts that develop their vocabulary and awareness of the wider world. Visits to the Cheltenham Literature Festival enhance pupils' love of books and reading.

The school's work to develop pupils' personal development is strong.

It provides pupils with rich developmental experiences, such as the residential trip to Wales. Alongside other opportunities, it develops pupils' perseverance, resilience and leadership skills. Pupils relish the roles and responsibilities afforded to them.

These include being reading buddies and classroom monitors. Pupils learn how to become thoughtful young people who respect and appreciate the diversity of the world in which they live.

Leaders and governors have a detailed and accurate knowledge of the impact of the school's work.

Governors hold the school firmly to account for the quality of education and care pupils receive. Staff are extremely proud to work at the school and speak positively about the raised ambition.

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 areas of learning, the curriculum is not being delivered as intended. As a result, pupils do not gain the depth of knowledge they need to achieve well in these subjects. The school needs to ensure that the curriculum is implemented successfully so that pupils build their knowledge well.

• In some subjects, checks on what pupils know and remember are underdeveloped. As a result, some pupils struggle to recall the essential knowledge they have previously learned. The school should ensure that systems for assessments are implemented effectively so that pupils know and remember more.

• The school does not adapt learning well enough to meet the needs of some pupils with SEND. As a result, pupils struggle to learn new concepts. The school should ensure that they provide staff with the support and guidance they need to make sure pupils with SEND are supported well to learn the curriculum.