Benthal Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 20 June 2023

Leaders encourage pupils to respect one another and to help others. They guide pupils to love learning and to be confident. Many parents and carers commented that this is a friendly school and that pupils make friends easily. Leaders have high expectations of pupils and they expect pupils to work hard. Pupils meet these expectations. They do so by focusing in class and by behaving in a kind and thoughtful manner. They are safe and they said that they enjoy attending school. Leaders support pupils to look after their mental health. Leaders have made this a priority following pupils return to school after the COVID-19 pandemic. Pupils are encouraged to eat well and to exercise regularly. For example, pupils are taught to cycle in Years 5 and 6. Teachers foster pupils' understanding of the environment as part of the zero-carbon project in Year 5. Leaders arrange many visits and educational outings for pupils. In Year 5, pupils have the opportunity practise their Spanish language skills through a visit to a partner school in Madrid. Pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6 take part in residential journeys each year. Leaders ensure that all pupils learn to play musical instruments, including the ukulele and the violin. Older pupils read with younger pupils.

What the school should improve

• The school has not systematically identified and sequenced the core knowledge and skills that children need to know throughout some areas of learning in the early years. This means that children do not develop equally secure knowledge, skills and vocabulary across some areas of the early years foundation stage. The school should ensure that children follow a well-sequenced curriculum from the beginning of the early years and ensure that this curriculum logically builds on children's prior knowledge.
• Sometimes, teaching does not reflect leaders' intentions accurately. For example, sometimes work provided does not support pupils to learn and remember the intended content. Occasionally, teachers do not check that pupils know and understand what they have been taught before they teach new knowledge. This means that pupils do not learn all that leaders intend. The school should ensure that the curriculum is delivered so that all pupils, including those with SEND, learn and remember more.

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