Belle Vale Community Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 26 September 2023

Pupils enjoy attending Belle Vale Community Primary School. Staff have high expectations of what every pupil can and should achieve. Pupils said that staff help them to live out the school's motto of 'learning together, being our best'. Typically, pupils achieve well across a range of subjects. Older pupils are an excellent example to younger children in early years. They model sensible behaviour and help children to play together kindly. Pupils are well mannered, confident and welcoming to visitors. They show respect towards staff and each other. Pupils benefit from a well-designed curriculum. Their learning is enhanced with carefully chosen experiences, for example visits to local places of interest, such as zoos or museums. Pupils also relish opportunities for challenging outdoor and adventurous activities, such as those on offer during residential visits in key stage 2. Pupils said that the school teaches them how to keep themselves safe. This includes how to cross the road safely and learning how to stay safe when online. Pupils enjoy a wide range of after-school and lunchtime clubs. They also have opportunities to apply for a variety of leadership roles, such as those of school councillor, prefect, digital leader and librarian. Pupils take these responsibilities seriously and perform their duties with pride. Year 6 pupils feel well prepared for secondary school.

What the school should improve

• In one or two subjects, the curriculum content does not match the ambition of the national curriculum. This means that pupils do not acquire some of the knowledge that is essential for subsequent learning. As a result, from time to time, there are gaps in pupils' understanding. The school should ensure that the curriculums in these subjects cover the breadth of knowledge that pupils need in order to be ready for the next stage of their education.
• In some subjects, on occasion, teachers do not choose activities that support pupils to learn the knowledge defined in the curriculum. As a result, some pupils do not learn as deeply as they could in these subjects. The school should ensure that teachers are equipped with the necessary expertise to deliver the curriculum consistently well.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)