Bobov Primary Boys School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 June 2024

Staff want pupils to achieve highly. However, in practice, pupils do not learn well enough in their secular studies. They do not build up their knowledge securely in different subjects. They are not well prepared for the next steps in their learning. Children in the early years settle in and are very well cared for. However, the school has not considered well enough what children need to learn and when. There are too many inconsistencies between the different classes. Some areas of learning are not well promoted in the Reception Year. Pupils enjoy whole-school reward trips to theme parks and adventure camps. However, they do not benefit from a wide range of enrichment opportunities. For example, they do not get the chance to take part in any extra-curricular activities. Pupils enjoy their time at school. They are proud to be part of the school's friendly and welcoming community. Pupils look out for each other and show kindness and respect to everyone. Staff take good care of pupils' well-being. The school helps pupils learn how to keep themselves safe in different situations. Pupils feel confident to report any concerns that they have. They behave well and build positive relationships with staff and each other.

What the school should improve

• The secular curriculum is weak. Some subjects have only recently been introduced and, in some cases, are not taught regularly in each year group. Across all subjects, the curriculum is not implemented well enough. Staff knowledge and expertise are too variable. Staff often choose activities for themselves which do not help pupils to learn the intended curriculum. Pupils' knowledge across different subjects is not secure. Many pupils have gaps in their knowledge because, over time, the curriculum has not been taught well enough. The school should ensure that staff have the right expertise and knowledge to implement the secular studies curriculum. The school should ensure that pupils build up their knowledge in each subject securely so that they are well prepared for the next stages of their education.
• The school has not worked out precisely what children in the early years need to learn and when, especially in the Reception Year. This leads to significant inconsistencies in how the curriculum is implemented. In some areas of learning, children's experiences are too limited or not well thought out. Children do not build up the knowledge they need in readiness for the move to Year 1. The school should ensure that the early years curriculum is well planned and implemented, particularly in Reception, to ensure that children are well prepared for their next steps in learning.
• There is a lack of English reading books in the school. The school should ensure that pupils benefit from high-quality resources, including reading books, to support their English language learning.
• The school provides too few suitable opportunities which aim to develop pupils' interests and talents. Curricular or extra-curricular enrichment opportunities are minimal. This limits the school's work to promote pupils' personal development. The school should ensure that pupils receive a wide, rich set of experiences in school to support their personal development.
• The school's relationships and sex education programme for secondary-age pupils does not give due regard to statutory guidance. Throughout the school, teaching about different religions, faiths and cultures is limited. The school should ensure that the programme for secondary-age pupils covers what is required and that pupils are appropriately supported to develop their knowledge of different religions, faiths and cultures.
• For too long, the school has not met the independent school standards. The proprietor has not acted with sufficient urgency or rigour to address the weaknesses identified at previous consecutive inspections. This has resulted in pupils continuing to receive a poor standard of education in the secular subjects. The school should ensure that all the independent school standards are met and that pupils' education improves, including in the early years.

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