Byley Primary School and Nursery

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 January 2023

Pupils, including children in the early years, are proud of their friendly school. They greet visitors with a warm welcome and a happy smile. They explained that their school is like a family 'because everyone cares for each other'. Pupils thrive in the calm and nurturing atmosphere that leaders and staff have created. They feel safe and appreciate that staff care deeply about their well-being. Pupils said that if bullying should ever happen, adults would help them to make friends again. Leaders deal with any incidents of bullying effectively. Leaders are ambitious for pupils, including children in the early years and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils enjoy their lessons. They are eager to learn. Pupils behave well and work hard. Pupils achieve well and, at the end of Year 6, they are prepared well for secondary school. Older pupils take their responsibilities seriously. For example, they are proud to be house captains, school councillors and junior safety officers. At playtime and lunchtime, pupils have lots of fun together. Older pupils take good care of their younger friends. Pupils relish the many opportunities that leaders provide such as trips to the theatre and residential visits. Pupils, parents and carers appreciate the many sports clubs from American football to lacrosse that pupils can join after school.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, leaders' strategies in place to check on pupils' learning are at an earlier stage of development. This means that on occasion, teachers are not able to ensure that pupils are acquiring a secure knowledge of some aspects of the curriculum, including subject-specific vocabulary. Leaders should ensure that assessment strategies in these subjects are developed and used well by teachers to check whether pupils have learned what was intended.

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