Belton Church of England Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 October 2023

This is a welcoming school. Pupils said that they are happy. They attend well. They enjoy learning across a broad range of subjects. Pupils are well prepared for their next steps in education. Pupils feel safe at school. They know whom to talk to if they have any worries. They know how to share a concern, for example through the 'whisper' text programme. Pupils know that adults will help them sort out any difficulties they may have. Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe. The e-safety ambassadors enjoy the responsibility of supporting their peers with any online problems. Pupils know and understand the high expectations that teachers have of their conduct. Pupils behave well. They are respectful towards their peers and adults. Incidents of bullying are rare. Staff deal with concerns quickly. Staff have high expectations of what pupils can achieve. However, some pupils do not gain the knowledge they should across the curriculum. Some subjects are not as well planned as others. Parents and carers are very positive about the school. One parent spoke for many when they described the school as one that 'celebrates each unique child and cultivates a love of learning'.

What the school should improve

• In some foundation subjects, curriculum planning is in its infancy. Planning is not sufficiently focused on the key knowledge that pupils should know and remember. This leads to some pupils not learning the curriculum as well as they should. The school should ensure that the curriculum in all subjects is well planned and sequenced, that teachers are clear about the knowledge that pupils must acquire, and that teachers deliver the intended curriculum so that pupils achieve well in all the subjects that they study.
• Teachers regularly check what pupils know in some subjects. However, systems for checking what pupils know and remember in some foundation subjects are not as effective as is needed. This means that some pupils' misconceptions are not addressed. Errors are not identified quickly enough. The school must ensure that teachers use assessment information effectively across all subjects, enabling pupils to know more and remember more of the intended curriculum.
• The curriculum for personal development does not provide pupils with enough opportunities to deepen their understanding of different faiths and cultures. This means that pupils are not as well prepared for some aspects of life in modern Britain. The school must ensure that the curriculum enables pupils to develop a more secure understanding of British values and different faiths and cultures.

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