Castor CofE Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 June 2024

Pupils at Castor CofE Primary School are happy and enjoy learning. They are benefiting from the recently revised curriculum and a positive learning experience. Following a period of change, pupils are settled at this school. They love learning and demonstrate positive learning behaviours. Pupils revel in the chance to share their learning. For example, pupils eagerly shared their recent Roman history learning about their school site. Behaviour is strong. Pupils strive to receive weekly rewards. Pupils enjoy a range of activities in the playground. They collaborate and support each other in a friendly manner. The social and emotional needs of pupils are a priority. Pupils feel safe. They use the school's Bee Box to share any worries they might have. They know that an adult will be there to talk to. Some pupils visit The Hive, where they can take a break or receive bespoke support to ensure they are ready to learn. Pupils benefit from a range of high-quality enrichment experiences. Planned trips, visits and outdoor learning activities enhance the curriculum. Pupils also speak with pride about their roles of responsibility, such as becoming school councillors and sports ambassadors. These opportunities add value to pupils' learning and development.

What the school should improve

• In subjects where the curriculum is new or recently refined, pupils have gaps in their knowledge. This makes it hard for pupils to access new learning and build their knowledge over time. The school should ensure that staff routinely plan to assess pupils' prior knowledge before introducing new content. This will enable them to adjust planning to fill any gaps in knowledge.
• Pupils' application of their writing skills across the curriculum is not always as strong as it needs to be. Pupils do not spell or use appropriate grammar well enough across all subjects. Leaders must continue to implement and monitor their approach to writing in English across all subjects. This will ensure pupils are able to use their writing effectively to demonstrate what they know and remember clearly.

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