Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 2 February 2023

Pupils are proud of their school. They enjoy learning and their friends' company. They play together happily at playtimes. Older pupils support younger ones. Bures is a happy, supportive place to learn. Pupils feel safe. They are confident that adults care and put them first. They talk to staff when they are anxious or worried. Leaders have high expectations. Pupils behave and learn well. They are interested in their learning, listen to their teachers and respond to adults when they are reminded of the rules. Pupils do not feel judged when things go wrong. Teachers help them to put things right. Bullying is rare, but when it does happen adults help to sort it out quickly. Pupils understand that everyone is equal. They learn about a wide range of people, including different family arrangements and religions. They show respect for others' views and values. They discuss world events and show a mature understanding of complex situations, such as the recent events around the World Cup. Pupils take advantage of the wide range of clubs and activities that the school provides. They love taking on responsibilities such as supporting their friends as peer mediators or acting as school councillors.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, leaders have not identified clearly the most important knowledge that pupils need to remember for future learning. Teachers are unclear as to what knowledge they should prioritise and the order in which this should be taught. As a result, pupils do not always recall their learning or use it in future learning, which slows their progress in these subjects. Leaders must ensure that, in all subjects, curriculum plans lay out clearly the important knowledge that pupils must learn and the order in which it should be taught, so that pupils build effectively on what they have previously learned.

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