Brambles Primary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 25 January 2023

Pupils' behaviour in school is exemplary. They move through corridors quietly and sensibly, holding doors open for each other and greeting staff as they pass by. Pupils are polite and remember to say 'please' and 'thank you' throughout the day. There is a culture of high expectations in school, so all staff, including lunchtime supervisors and kitchen staff, make sure that these manners continue wherever pupils are. Teachers are ambitious for what pupils should know. Pupils are articulate and well spoken. They contribute well to class discussions and use ambitious vocabulary that they have been taught. Pupils talk about what they know about fractions in mathematics or about democracy in ancient Greece with real understanding. In most subjects, their knowledge is building up bit by bit as they move through the school. Pupils know that they have trusted adults to talk to if they have any concerns. Because of the respect pupils have for each other, friendship problems are rare. If there are issues such as bullying or the use of bad language, staff recognise these and stop them getting worse straight away. Pupils learn about being safe and responsible citizens. Members of the police force come into school as part of 'Pol Ed' and meet with pupils to improve their understanding of the law. Pupils know about each other's beliefs and celebrate the diversity that is in the school.

What the school should improve

• In some foundation subjects, such as art and design and PE, the knowledge that pupils need to remember has not been sufficiently defined. Teachers are sometimes unsure what it is that pupils need to remember from the activity that they are doing. Leaders should ensure that all subjects have the precisely defined knowledge that pupils need to remember, and that this information is well understood by teachers.
• Too many pupils are persistently absent from school. They are not benefiting from the good quality of education in the school because they miss so much. Leaders should ensure that the attendance policy is clearly enforced and families get the support that they need to ensure these pupils attend more regularly.
• Pupils do not get enough opportunities to have educational visits or wider experiences that would contribute to their understanding of different concepts such as democracy or how different cultures celebrate. Some pupils have a limited understanding of these concepts. Leaders should design and implement more thoughtful opportunities for pupils to experience aspects of the wider offer for personal development.

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